James (Jim) Hoogland
With our deepest love and gratitude for a life well-loved and well lived, the family of James (Jim) Hoogland announces his unexpected passing on July 8, 2024. We were so blessed to have him for 90 years as a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and true friend.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity Methodist Church Sanctuary on Friday July 12 at 3 p.m. with Reverend Doug de Graffenried officiating. A visitation will be held in the sanctuary beginning at 2 p.m. until the time of the service.
The burial ceremony will be at Greenwood Cemetery following the service under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston.
Jim was born in Madelia, Minnesota on January 26, 1934, to John Dirk and Winifred Hoogland. His father immigrated with his family from The Netherlands to Hollandale, Minnesota. His mother Winifred lived in Iowa before moving to Minnesota. His family were dairy farmers in Minnesota before moving to Louisiana to continue farming. Eventually Jim’s Father became head of Louisiana Tech Farm, where his family lived and raised Jim and his 4 siblings.
Jim graduated from Ruston High School where he proudly played on the 1951 State Championship football team. He and many of his teammates have remained in touch throughout their lives. During his senior year, he was named Friendliest, which still holds true today. Just ask anyone he’s met. While in high school, he met the love of his life Dorothy Etta Goff. They were married in 1957 and were blessed with 67 years of love, family, and friendship.
Jim attended Louisiana Tech University, at the time known as Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. While attending Tech, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and soon after married Dorothy Etta, realizing he wanted to live the rest of his life with her.
Soon after marriage, he was deployed to Germany. He served in the 8th Aviation Company in support of the 8th Infantry Division. While in Germany he and his buddies visited 17 different countries in a Volkswagen bug.
After his Army service, he and Dorothy lived in the married housing on Tech campus while he finished his degree in Civil Engineering. They then moved to Monroe, where he worked for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Jim was a Project Engineer on many roads and bridges in the Ouachita Parish area. Including being the Project Engineer who led the construction of the I-20 interstate bridge over the Ouachita River, before there were computers.
Jim was dedicated to making sure every road and bridge was safe for the public. And that dedication to detail was seen in everything in his life. While in Monroe, where they lived for 40 years, Jim and Dorothy raised their 3 children. They were active members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Jim was a member of the Monroe Jaycees where he along with Dorothy began their lifelong participation in the Miss Louisiana Scholarship Organization, spanning 60 years.
Jim was the ultimate family man, and he and Dorothy dedicated their life to their family. They would drive or fly to attend every sporting event, awards ceremony, pageant, and dance recital of their children and grandchildren.
Jim and Dorothy shared a love of traveling and had many wonderful trips all over the country and Europe and were passengers on many many cruise ships. To say they supported Louisiana Tech sports teams is an understatement. They were the poster board of what a true fan is. They rarely missed a home game and traveled the country to support them. Jim never left a game before the final play, winning or losing.
He, with his sweetheart by his side loved watching the Dawgs, the Saints, and the Lady Techsters anytime. He loved his dogs and cats, as well as his backyard birds and raccoons. Jim loved attending movies, plays, and pageants with his lovely wife. And he never turned down a cup of coffee.
Jim led a life of integrity, kindness, and patriotism. Some might have called him a perfectionist, but he always made sure the job was done well. We mourn his passing, but yet we celebrate his long, incredible life ... a life well lived.
Left to cherish a lifetime of memories are Dorothy Etta, his devoted wife of 67 years; his daughter, Melissa and her husband Garry of Henderson, Nevada; two sons, Dirk of Dubach, and Harrell and his wife Missy of Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Jim is also survived by his brother, Donald Hoogland of Dallas; sister, Jane McDermott and her husband Tom of Shreveport; sistersin- law, Stephanie Goff and Margaret Hoogland of Ruston; and his many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, true friends, and his sweet dog Sophie that he called Lil Girl.
Jim was a committed and caring Papa to his grandchildren, Tyler and Reid of Shreveport, Collin and Caitlin Brown of Las Vegas, Alex and Chloe of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, and Aubrey Robbins of Cleveland, Tennessee.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, John Dirk and Winifred Hoogland; brothers, Richard and Fredric Hoogland; his precious grandson, Collin Brown; sister and brother- in-law, Minette and Ed Cooper; sister-inlaw, Virginia Hoogland; brother-in-law, Kennon Goff; and nephew, Marc Cooper.
Honoring Jim as Pallbearers will be grandsons, Collin Brown, Tyler Hoogland, Reid Hoogland and Alex Hoogland. Also, David Hoogland, Add Goff and Brad Lawrence.
Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Bailey, Jim Ball, James Davison, John Eason, Jon Ferguson, Lamar Mullican, Petey Perot, Mark Richardson, Todd Tatum, Michael “Goober” Ultch, Darris Waren, James T. Young, and E. R. (Buck) Lawrence (deceased).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Louisiana Tech Athletic Club (LTAC) or to 4 Paws Rescue (318-251-3649).
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes. com.
