Frank Everett Hoskins

Frank Everett Hoskins, 74, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, after a brief but intense battle with cancer. His illness came on quickly, but Frank faced it with courage and a fighting spirit. Ultimately, the battle was too much, but his strength and determination inspires all who loved him.

Frank was born in Jefferson, Iowa, to Lloyd and Ruth (Dudley) Hoskins. He grew up in the Paton-Churdan area of Greene County, IA. Frank was the second youngest of seven children. He graduated from Paton-Churdan High School in 1968 and furthered his education at the University of Northern Iowa earning a music education degree and went on to receive his Masters of Music Education at the University of South Dakota.

While attending the University of Northern Iowa in 1970, Frank met the love of his life, Claudia (Morford). They married in 1972, built a beautiful life together, and raised three amazing children. Upon retirement Frank and Claudia moved to an acreage east of Des Moines where they enjoyed their love of nature, gardening, and peace and quiet.

For 35 years, Frank dedicated his life to education, teaching band and instilling a lifelong love of music in hundreds of students in Wall Lake, Paullina, and Storm Lake schools. He was a passionate and talented educator, known both for his excellence in music and teaching life lessons along the way. One of Frank’s greatest honors was serving as president of the Iowa Bandmasters Association in the year 2007. His influence on students stretched across generations, as evidenced by the outpouring of love and admiration from former students and colleagues.

A lover of the outdoors, Frank especially enjoyed fishing for trout and walleye. He took several trips each year with longtime friends and fishing buddies, always exploring the Midwest’s best fishing spots in search of the next big catch. His son, Matt, often joined him on these adventures, strengthening their bond over the shared love for the outdoors.

Frank also had a green thumb, spending countless hours in his garden nurturing plants from seed. He loved sharing the bounty of his harvest with family and friends, taking immense pride in the fruits of his labor. In his younger years, Frank was an avid pheasant hunter and developed a lifelong love for Brittany Spaniels. His beloved dog, Ally, will miss him dearly.

Frank’s greatest joy was his family. His children and grandchildren were his pride and legacy, and he often shared stories about their successes with friends and loved ones.

Frank is survived by his wife of 52 years, Claudia; his daughters, Michelle (Tony) Kauten and Samantha (Jeff) Robilliard; his son, Mathew (Jackie) Hoskins; and nine grandchildren; Abigail, Halle, Alex, Macy, Nathan, Landon, Madeline, Carter, and Bennett, who brought him endless joy.

Frank touched countless lives, as evidenced by more than 3,000 visits on his CaringBridge page from former students, friends, and family who were devastated by his passing. His kindness, love of the outdoors, passion for music, and unwavering devotion to his family leave a legacy that will be deeply cherished.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents; his granddaughter, Aubrey; and siblings Rose, Elaine, Lois, and Ralph.

A celebration of life will be held 5 to 9 P.M. on Friday December 20, 2024 at the Izaak Walton League (4343 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321) with a time of sharing starting at 7 P.M. A memorial service will be held at 10 A.M. on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel (801 19th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265).

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Food Bank of Iowa (PO Box 1517 Des Moines, IA 50305).

To watch Frank's service, please use the following link: https://youtu.be/vX04UXQ1uXQ?si=cOjaHkTba__mjhpF