Byron John Hohnstein
Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Byron John Hohnstein on Thursday, December 29, 2022. He passed away peacefully at home in Healdsburg surrounded by loved ones. He was 74.
Hohnstein was born May 5, 1948 in Portland, Oregon to Elsie and Reuben Hohnstein. They moved to Ukiah in 1954 after the family purchased Ukiah Sanitary Disposal. He graduated from Ukiah High in 1966.
Hohnstein served in the United States Air Force and was a Vietnam veteran. He was stationed at Phan Rang Air Base in the 35th Field Maintenance Squadron for 12 months as a jet engine mechanic. According to a performance report while in Vietnam, "on numerous occasions Sgt. Hohnstein's accurate troubleshooting and superior mechanical ability have been instrumental in returning out-of-commission aircraft back to the fight ahead of schedule." He earned a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and an Air Force Good Conduct Medal.
After serving three years and four months Hohnstein was honorably discharged early so he could help his mother run the family business following the unexpected passing of his father.
Hohnstein met his wife of 52 years Debbie Burke in high school and they wed July 11, 1970 at St Mary's Church in Ukiah.
The couple then moved to Santa Rosa in 1975 to help run another family-owned garbage business Pacific Sanitary Disposal. Shortly after they fell in love with an old victorian fixer-upper in Healdsburg that would be the home they raised their four children in.
A self-employed business owner for most of his life, Hohnstein was grateful to work with loyal, hard-working staff at Aamco Transmissions, Transco Transmissions in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg Transmission.
Because of his love and joy for all things trucks, his last business was Healdsburg Landscape Materials which he founded in 1998. His first purchase was a shiny, red Peterbilt from Opperman and Son. He was most at home in the cab of that truck crisscrossing Healdsburg delivering material.
Hohnstein also enjoyed fishing, wood-working, driving his Ford truck and camping with friends and family.
Byron Hohnstein was preceded in death by his parents Reuben and Elsie Hohnstein of Ukiah. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Debbie Hohnstein and children Bryan Hohnstein (Anne) of Santa Rosa, Christine Fincher (Randy) of Healdsburg, Jennifer Cox (Joseph) of Healdsburg and Kathleen Natividad (Sean) of Santa Rosa. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Olivia, Emma, Reuben, Lila, Sullivan and Finnegan.
To honor his memory, the family is holding a celebration of life that will be held Saturday, January 28, 2023 at the Villa Chanticleer Annex (Veterans Hall) in Healdsburg from 1-3 pm. We invite anyone who knows Byron to attend and remember his life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to K9s For Warriors 114 Camp K9 Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081; k9sforwarriors.org
Published in Healdsburg Tribune · January 17, 2023