My Uncle Willie

On January 28th, my uncle Willie, my mothers brother, passed away. This brought much sadness to me, as he was such an amazing person, who had lived through so much tragedy. (His brother Raymond died at 18, of bone cancer. His Brother Albert died at 28 from an accident in an oil tanker. His sister Agnes, my mother, died at 36 from cancer. His mother died from complications from childbirth from having my aunt Dorothy. His father died in a plane crash over the Atlantic Ocean.) He was a man full of love and devotion to family. He was the key for me in having contact with my mom's family. Fortunately, I was able to attend his funeral in Winnemucca, Nevada on Feb. 3, 2009, and renew family relationships with my Aunt Dorothy and many cousins. It was a day of heartache and comfort, too.

UNCLE WILLIES OBITUARY:
Jacobus W. "Willie" Hooft
Jacobus William “Willie“ Hooft, 85, passed away January 28, 2009 at Humboldt General Hospital. Born July 21, 1923, in Secaucus, New Jersey, to Willem and Gertje Hooft, he and his family moved to Salt Lake City where he lived until the age of seven. In 1930, the family moved to Winnemucca where he was raised and educated. As a young boy he worked in the Humboldt Bakery which was established by his father in 1935 with a 25 dollar loan from a friend. He continued working at the bakery through high school while playing football, basketball, track and tennis. He was a member of the high school band where he played several different instruments despite not knowing how to read music. Following graduation, he joined the Navy where he served in World War II aboard the USS Goss from 1942-1945. Upon returning to Winnemucca, he continued working at his family's bakery. In 1952, he married Antonia “Tony“ Barinaga in Winnemucca, where they raised three sons, Jim, Raymond and Robert. In 1958, his father was killed in a KLM airliner explosion off the coast of Ireland, at which time Willie took over the bakery and a short time later renamed it “Hooft's Bakery.“ Willie, along with his sons, spent many long hours at the bakery creating incredible pastries and breads, earning Hooft's Bakery a reputation both locally and regionally. With a passion for flying and aviation, Willie not only held a private pilot's license but was also a certified flight instructor. He flew for the Bureau of Land Management scouting wild fires. He owned and operated the fuel operations at both locations of the Winnemucca Airport for many years. He also loved music and dancing and while a young man was the drummer of the popular Ferris Trio, that played at local dances and other functions. In addition, he loved to play the harmonica. In 1998, Willie retired from the bakery he had owned for 40 years and worked in for 65 years. He spent his days enjoying time with his many grandchildren. He also spent time with his special friend, Aaron Garrison, a young boy who he met in physical therapy. Willie was a Boy Scout leader and an organizer of youth activities. He was a former member of the Lion's Club, a School Board Member of the Humboldt County School District for two decades, a board member of the Friends of Nixon Hall and a board member at the Senior Center where he enjoyed eating lunch and visiting with friends. He orchestrated an annual donut sale fundraising event for the Lowry High School Honor Society where many high school students took part in a very early morning of donut making. Willie was a kind and generous man with a big heart who donated frequently to local churches and other charities. Willie is preceded in death by both his parents, brothers, Albert and Raymond and sister, Agnes. Willie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Tony; his sons, Jim Achabal, Raymond Hooft, M.D. and Robert Hooft (Marie); sister, Dorothy Leonelli (Sam); sister-in-law, Delores Link (Albert); brother-in-law, Kay Johnson (Agnes); grandchildren, Kyle, Aubri, Mary Kate, Joe, Therese, Stephanie, Isaac, Austin, Anneka, Jessica, Raymond and Sierra; great-grandchild, Donovan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Thank you, Uncle Willie, for the example of family unity, unconditional love, and caring that you showed towards my sisters and I and our families. You will be missed terribly! There will never be a baker as wonderful as you in my life!

Thanks for the legacy that you have left for me and my family in your simple words:

"As you rumble on through life

Whatever be your goal

Keep your eye upon the donut

and not upon the hole"