Address
Locke on 4th
1519 W 4th St.
Waterloo, IA 50702
Visitation
August 18, 2026
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Locke at Tower Park
4140 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA
Visitation
August 19, 2026
9:30 am – 10:30 am
St. Edward Catholic Church
1423 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA
Funeral Service
August 19, 2026
10:30 am – 11:30 am
St. Edward Catholic Church
1423 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA
Donald Leo Hoth, 88, of Waterloo, died on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home from complications of Parkinson’s and dementia.
Don was born on January 24, 1938, in Waverly, the son of Raymond and Angela King Hoth.
Don graduated from University of Iowa. He was employed by IBM Corporation for 27 years in engineering, marketing, and management. He took an early retirement and beginning in 1987 he was employed as the director of Covenant Foundation (now MercyOne) for 15 years and vice president of development for 5 years.
Don served in the United States Army Reserves, 1961-1966.
Don had a passion for helping others and was deeply involved in the community. He served for 11 years on the Cedar Valley United Way Board of Directors, including as board chair, and also served on the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau. He was a founder and board member of Cedar Valley Economic Development and spent 20 years as a Waterloo Ambassador. He also served on the AEA Board of Directors, the Black Hawk County Compensation Board, and the Waterloo Leisure Services Commission. He received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in both 2010 and 2011. Don co-founded the Black Hawk County Gaming Association and served as its president, helping create lasting change in the Cedar Valley. Don was a true leader who believed anything was possible. He was warm, personable, and kind to everyone he met.
He married the love of his life, Julie Mauer Koch, on June 28, 1997. Don often said, “She is the best thing that ever happened to me.” Don and Julie were blessed with 29 years of marriage and lived each day to the fullest even when Don’s health was failing. Don enjoyed time with friends, golfing, playing Wordscapes on his iPad, relaxing on the deck, going to the ISLE, and cheering for the UNI Panthers and Iowa Hawkeyes.
Don is survived by his loving wife, Julie Koch-Hoth; son, John Hoth; daughter-in-law, Kathy Sweeney-Hoth; stepdaughter, Caitlin (David) Boyd; stepson, Eric Koch; brothers-in-law, Scot Mauer, Jay (Vicki) Mauer, Andy (Gail) Mauer, and Nick (Kelly) Mauer; sister-in-law, Jackie (Chris) Doyle; his mother-in-law, Mary Mauer; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son, David Hoth; brother, Richard Hoth; sister, Judy Seifert; father-in-law, Orville Mauer and sister-in-law, Jacque Mauer.
Funeral Service: 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 19 at St. Edward Catholic Church, Waterloo with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Visitation: 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Tuesday, August 18 at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave, and for an hour before services at the church.
Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice, Waterloo Community Foundation, or UNI Ever Loyal Club.
Rest in peace Don, you certainly left your mark in this community. A long, full life lived your way.
Julie, we are sending condolences to you, extended family and his many beloved friends. Don will be remembered with such gratitude on a life well lived. He impacted the Cedar Valley in countless ways because he loved it so. I was fortunate to have a front row seat on how he moved mountains. He was a mentor and friend as I fondly look back at our days working together at Covenant Foundation. His intellect coupled with his great wit, big ideas and legendary laugh (coupled with those legendary cheesecakes) were all part of his charm. God speed Don.
I’m so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He was a true champion for our community.
I enjoyed working with Don when he chaired the Leisure Services Commission and as he worked to establish the Black Hawk County Gaming Commission to support so many quality of life initiatives in Waterloo and surrounding communities.
My condolences to Julie and all of Don’s family and friends. He will be missed!
We are so sorry to hear of Uncle Don’s passing. So many memories! My mom, his sister, as well as his son, David and Brother Dick we’re all surely there to greet him with open arms! Prayers of peace to the entire family! He was loved by so many and will be greatly missed! 🙏❤️
Julie, wishing you peace as you remember wonderful memories that you shared with Don. Our sympathy and prayers go out to you and your family.
We will miss you, Uncle Don. Blessings and peace to you, Julie
Julie –
Don was a good man, and good husband and a good father. He accomplished more in each of his numerous careers than most of us do in a lifetime. He left an indelible mark on those who knew him, and on the community as a whole. His legacy is secure, and he will be missed. My heartfelt condolences to you, Julie.
Julie and family, I read Pat Kinney’s wonderful tribute to Don and thought of what an incredible life he lived. I got to see Don’s influence from many different angles and was so proud of the encouragement and support he gave to me. One of my favorite lines from the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is spoken by the angel, Clarence Odbody: “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives.” That was the ripple effect of Don’s life.
Thinking of you … and my friend, Don.