Date of Birth:
Sunday, March 29, 1931
Date of Death:
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Age:
89 years old

Duane Charles Hoven

Duane Charles Hoven died early in the morning of Christmas Eve 2020. He was born on March 29, 1931, to Clarence and Mildred Hoven in Zumbrota, Minnesota. Duane attended Zumbrota public schools, was active in his church and in sports, and as a Boy Scout, and earned the Eagle Scout award.

After high school, Duane went to St. Olaf College where he was active in sports and student government. He also became the first president of the newly formed St. Olaf Student Congregation. Duane graduated as a History major in 1953. He met his wife, Ann Andersen, at St. Olaf and they were one of the first couples to marry at the new Boe Memorial Chapel in 1954. Immediately afterward, they moved to St. Paul, Minn., where Duane attended Luther Seminary. He was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1957.

For 36 years he served Lutheran parishes in Dodgeville and Wausau, Wisc. as well as in Faribault, Minn., and in 1980, Duane and Ann moved to Rochester, Minn. where he served at Zumbro Lutheran Church. During his ministry, and in his personal life, he often focused on building bridges of understanding and peace. This included experiences close to home and around the world. In 1982, Duane was part of a visit to Christians in China. In 1983, he gave leadership to the first joint Lutheran/Episcopal worship in Rochester, Minn. In 1985, Duane and Ann taught in Papua New Guinea. They also were part of an official visit to the Russian Orthodox Church for their millennium in 1988. Other travel included trips to Japan, Israel, New Zealand, Iceland as well as Scandinavian and European nations, both independently and through Elderhostels.

Duane was a member of the Board of Regents at St. Olaf College (1974-1981) and the Board of Directors at Luther Theological Seminary (1982-1988). He retired as Directing Pastor at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester in 1993. In retirement, he served the SE Minnesota Synod of the ELCA as Coordinator of Mission Interpretation, and in 1998 as Interim Assistant to the Synod Bishop.

He also devoted time and energy to writing family histories as well as research projects for the Zumbrota Area and Minnesota Historical Societies. Duane was an enthusiastic golfer, cross-country skier, rollerblades, and tennis player. He appreciated nature and led many backpacking and canoe trips for church youth, as well as taking his family on camping trips throughout much of the U.S. Duane explored many hobbies and interests in his lifetime, from making model airplanes, to photography, to watercolor painting. He had a curious mind and enjoyed reading, learning, and teaching. At the time of his death, he had presented two of four sessions he had written, “Aging Gracefully” to residents at his home, The Waters on Mayowood.

Duane’s immediate family was a high priority. Survivors include his wife Ann, two daughters, Beth Hoven Rotto and Maren J. Dale, and son, John N. Hoven. He is also survived by sons-in-law, Jon T. Rotto and Jeffrey Dale; granddaughters, Ingrid Martina Rotto and Clara Beth Dale; sister-in-law, Sarah Pfeiffer Andersen, nieces Rachel Faldet, Gretchen Belgum, nephew David Andersen and their families.