Obituary of Florence Hoard

With her beloved husband and caregiver “Papa” at her bedside, Florence Hoard died peacefully on July 6, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City after a courageous battle of many years with cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 9, 2009, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial will be at the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. There will be a reception for family and friends at the home of John and Cheryl Hoard @ 5243 Jenn-Mill Road SW, Hills, following the services at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in her memory to Iowa City Hospice, American Cancer Society, or the Parkinson’s Association. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Florence Hoard was born on March 19, 1918 to Henry and Ida Engelrup in Saskatchewan, Canada. Florence grew up in Oronoco, MN. She graduated from Owatonna High School. She served for two years in the Navy as a WAC being stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia. Florence earned her two-year teaching certificate from Winona Teachers College in Winona, MN. She taught for seven years in country schools in the Rochester, MN area. Florence met her husband to be, Sylvester “Joe” Hoard, while he was staying at her Aunt Lydia’s Tavernel in Oronoco, MN in the 1940’s. They moved to southeast Iowa and were married on June 1, 1951. The couple moved to Hills in the mid 1950’s where they raised their four children and have continued to live. They have been together for over 64 years. Florence attended the University of Iowa and completed work on her Bachelor’s Degree in 1969. She was a teacher at Liberty #4 and continued to teach as a second grade teacher and later a reading teacher at the Hills Elementary School. She taught in Iowa for 23 years, before retiring in June, 1986. After retiring, Florence volunteered at Hills Elementary School as a “Rockin Reader” and teacher helper well into her 80’s. Florence received two awards for her teaching for which she was very grateful and proud. She was awarded the ICEA Friend of Education Award in 1993. In 2005, Florence along with her husband, Joe were receiptants of the Kate Wickman Honors for their work with the children at Hills Elementary School. Her home interests included spending time with her family, reading and gardening. She and Joe were strong supporters of the Hoard Christmas Valley Tree Farm, doing whatever they could to help. She loved flowers and raised African Violets for many years. Despite Florence’s battle with health issues, she continued to work in her flower and vegetable gardens, swinging a hoe against her enemy, Creeping Charlie, until she was forced to use a walker and retire her hoe in her mid 80’s. Florence is survived by her husband and loving caregiver during her illnesses of the past several years; her children, Judy Hoard (Beth) of Madison, WI, Joe Hoard (Kathy) of Sutton, AK, and John Hoard (Cheryl) of Hills; five grandchildren, Titan Hoard, Andrea Howe, Brent Hoard, Jason Hoard and Josh Hoard; ten great-grandchildren; and her sister, Verna (Raymond) Berg of Rochester, MN. Florence was preceded in death by her youngest son, Jim Hoard; her brother Bernard Engelrup; and two sisters, Ethel Distad and Alice Sample. The family would like to say a special thank you to Iowa City Hospice for their support during Mom’s illness, especially Rachel, Regina, Lori,, Deanne, Tia and Diane. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Florence’s family and her services.