Obituary: Former Mayor Richard Hohs Shared Lessons, Life and Love

Former Morton Grove Mayor and lifelong resident Richard Hohs died April 13 in Lake Placid, FL. The father of eight, who was in his 80s, led a busy and full life as a World War II veteran, milkman and civic leader. 

“He was sitting on the porch with my mom and chatting, when the good Lord reached down and touched him,” said Donald Hohs, the sixth eldest of the children. “Within 20 minutes he was gone, and it was just the way he would like to go.” 

Donald, who has served with the Glenview Police Department for more than three decades, said that his father’s life was defined by three principles: faith, family and community.

As a member of the Greatest Generation

Richard Hohs grew up on the corner of Fernald and Lincoln avenues. During the Great Depression, his family moved around Morton Grove several times. 

When World War II dawned in the U.S., Hohs was among the young men who signed up for service, despite being too young for the armed service.

“My father switched his birth certificate and somehow enlisted in the Navy,” said Donald. “He shared that sense of patriotism with many folks of that generation, and carried it forward for the rest of his life.”

Upon his return from the war, Hohs found work delivering milk on a North Shore route and later became a transportation engineer for Dean’s Food Corp. He worked in the field for 35 years, serving as a vice president for the local milk drivers’ union at one time.

As a family man

Hohs married his wife, who survives him, and together they created a family in Morton Grove comprising six daughters and two sons: Donald, Catherine Amelio, Susan Kent, Linda Schmeisser, Joan Tournis, Ronald Hohs, Patricia Herzog and Jean Budd. Hohs leaves a legacy of 29 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

“He had unending love and devotion to my mother and his kids,” said Donald. “My dad accumulated a tremendous amount of wealth, not speaking about monetary wealth, but in richness of life. That was golden cash for him.”

Donald acknowledged that his dad “had his rough edges like all of us,” but it was “always an honor to be his kid.”

As a community leader 

Hohs found time to serve on more than eight committees and departments in Morton Grove. From 1988-96, he served as the town's mayor. Before that, he served as a village trustee and superintendent of the Buildings and Grounds Department for the Morton Grove Park District.

“I’m the mayor of this town, and I clean the toilets and the parks,” was one of his father's quips, according to his son.

Donald said his father taught him never to ask someone to do something he could do himself. Another memorable saying that stuck with him was: “I put my pants on the same way everyone else does every morning, no better than anybody else.”

Morton Grove Mayor Dan Staackmann called the late civic leader a passionate man.

“Dick Hohs loved his town and country,” said Staackmann. “Having served both in the service and being an elected trustee and mayor, he never lacked passion for his beliefs.”

When asked about memorable stories about his dad, Donald noted: “You could write volumes about him. He was the kind of guy who never wanted to be in the limelight, yet always was the first to volunteer, to right the wrong, to help somebody else.”

The funeral will move from  Simkins Funeral Home, at 6251 Dempster St. in Morton Grove, on Wednesday 10:30 a.m., to St. Martha Church. Mass is at 11 a.m. Interment is at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Martha Church, 8523 Georgiana Ave. Morton Grove, IL 60053. Sign online guestbook at www.simkinsfh.com or call 847-965-2500.