Hop Howlett

Hop Howlett, 68, passed away peacefully February 14, 2018 following a valiant fight with Parkinson's disease.

Hop was born February 12, 1950, to Holly C. and Gladys (Brasel) Howlett in Kansas City, Kansas. After graduating from Washington High School in 1968, he entered West Point Military Academy in New York. His military service took him to Germany 1973-1976 where he served with the Berlin Brigade. He then served as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in Belvoir, Virginia. As the unit commander of a bomb squad in the Washington D.C. area, he and his personnel provided support to the U.S. Secret Service for protection of the President and foreign heads of state against terrorist violence. He was honorably discharged in December 1978.

Hop then began his career being hired at Idaho Nuclear Laboratory (INL) near Arco, Idaho in 1979, where he was certified as a nuclear plant engineer and shift supervisor for reactor plant operations as part of the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Program. In June of 1988, Hop founded TECHSTAR, Inc., a multi-service consulting firm specializing in the development of custom training programs and materials for industrial and nuclear facilities. He wrote three books and developed many courses he taught and presented around the U.S. and abroad internationally.

Hop enjoyed big game hunting, carpentry, and flying his Cessna 182. His greatest delight was giving tractor rides to his grandkids.

Hop is survived by his wife, Jane Howlett, Pocatello, ID; his children, Dirk (Shannon) Howlett, Richland, WA; Adam (Angela) Howlett, Beaver Falls, PA; Audrey (Adrian) Bianez, Kennewick, WA; two brothers, Donald (Sue) Howlett, Lancing, KS; Randy (Carolyn) Howlett, Basehor, KS; and five grandchildren, Elysia Howlett, Shayne Howlett, Faye Lilly Howlett, Maverick Elijah Holly Howlett, and Juliette (Devin) Bianez- Robinson. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services for Hop will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church, 1350 Baldy Avenue, Pocatello, ID, where Military rites will be provided by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard. He will be interred at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting the "Tribute Wall" tab above. His family suggests memorial contributions be made to one of the following options in place of floral tributes:

1. Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)

2. Parkinson's Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org)

3. West Point Association of Graduates by telephone (845) 446-1500