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Darwin D. Hopkins (Hop) died peacefully in his Ankeny home surrounded by his loved ones on May 6 at the age of 98.
Darwin is survived by his sons Dennis (Sue), David (Lyn) and daughter Debra; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by siblings Keith Hopkins and Pauline Thoren and son-in-law Cary Coole of Houston, TX.
He was born at home in Holland, lowa, to Delbert and Lillian Hopkins. He graduated from Dysart High School in 1942 and then went to Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa on a baseball scholarship. While at Upper Iowa he promptly met and fell in love with his future wife Kathryn (Kay) Johnson. He was drafted into the Army in 1943, however elected to join the Air Force. He married Kay in 1944, before shipping overseas to Europe where he served as a turret gunner for 65 missions on a bomber. He returned home in 1945 and finished college at Upper Iowa University and later earned his master's degree at the University of Northern Iowa. In his early career he was a special agent with General Motors which fostered his lifelong love for the automobile. Later he pursued teaching, being in education for over 30 years retiring at Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1990 as principal at South Junior High.
Darwin was a member of the Webster County Retired Teachers, Fort Dodge Shrine and Zag clubs, Elks Lodge #306 and 51 year member of American Legion. He's a past master of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Knights Templar. He volunteered for many years at Fort Dodge Trinity Regional Hospital where he served as the first male president of the auxiliary board. Hop was voted the 'best dressed man' on campus and continued this trend throughout his life. He and Kay enjoyed multiple trips with family and friends throughout their 76 years of marriage until her passing in 2020. Hop was an avid reader with a remarkable memory right up to the day he died. He was a leader among the Greatest Generation and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of life will be at a later date in Dysart, lowa.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Fort Dodge.