Richard C. Hohnbaum, Jr

Dick Hohnbaum was born on September 13, 1932, in LaJunta, Colorado. Dick, adopted older brother George and his parents moved to Tacoma. Dick graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a BA in Social work where he met his first wife, Marilyn Glee Callahan at a campus social event. They married in 1953 and moved to the Spokane Indian Reservation where he worked as a social case worker until 1956.

Their oldest son, Rick Arthur, was born in January of 1956 and their daughter Kathleen Marie in July of 1957. In 1957, Dick began a 33-year teaching career. After 3 years in Camas, Washington, Dick and Glee moved their growing family to the tiny fishing village of Cordova, Alaska. Kevin James joined the family in December of 1960, and Michael Lee in May of 1962.

After 7 years in Cordova, the family moved to Woodburn, Oregon, where Dick became the first male 1st grade teacher and eventually, the 1st male kindergarten teacher in Oregon. Dick taught two of his own kids in 4th grade while in Alaska, and retired in 1982 after having one of his granddaughters in his kindergarten class. Glee passed away from cancer in 1977.

In June of 1978 Dick married Clara Mae Brown (sons Eric, Rex and Ben). They divorced in 1981. In 1982 Dick married United Methodist pastor LaVernae Dick (sons Stephen, Tom and Wendell) and they served 5 different churches in the Willamette Valley. LaVernae passed away due to an accident in May of 1992.

On January 2nd, 1993, Dick married Catherine Joy McKennan and welcomed her son Barron and daughter Karen to the family.

Dick was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church. He was very active in the Oregon Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, serving as editor and publisher of the chapter's newsletter and as treasurer for nearly 20 years. He also volunteered at the Willamette Heritage Center and Mission Mill Museum in Salem reenacting an 1860s schoolmaster.

Dick loved to sing and in addition to various church choirs, spent 24 years as a member and the general manager for the Salem-area 80 member Just For Fun Singers. Dick and Cathy lived in Keizer and attended Clear Lake United Methodist Church for most of their 33 years together.

Dick leaves a large family at the time of his passing on December 15, 2025 - 4 children, 2 stepchildren, 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Keizer Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 7920 Wheatland Rd N, Keizer, Oregon 97303, at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 9th. Donations can be made in Dick's honor to Shriner's Hospital.