Danny Michael Hooge's Obituary
Danny Michael Hooge, born October 1, 1946, in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, to Victor Conrad Hooge and Clara Mildred “Millie” Ramsey Hooge, entered eternal rest on April 8, 2025, in Provo, Utah, due to complications from a stroke. The eldest of seven, he is survived by siblings Robert “L.C.” Hooge, Charles Ramsey Hooge, Selene Birdwell, and Blanche Whitefield. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Victor Craig Hooge and Eddie Kim Hooge.
Danny’s brilliance defined him. After graduating high school in 1964 in Gallatin, Tennessee, he earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1968. He served in the Navy from 1969-1974 as a Cryptologic Technician Second Class (CTR2), wielding his sharp mind to intercept signals and protect national security. His academic path led to a Master of Science in Poultry Science from Brigham Young University (1974) and a Doctor of Philosophy from Texas A&M University (1978).
On November 21, 1973, he married Debbie Mink in Provo, Utah. They raised six children—Heidi (Jared) Gray, Holly (Brian) Grow, Daniel (Natalie) Hooge, Jordan (Amy) Hooge, Andrew Hooge, and Hanna (Cody) Hopkinson—and welcomed 23 grandchildren: Kaitlin, Cameron, Kortney, Kelsey, Xander, Dylan, Sydney, Zoey, Hailey, Hayden, Harrison, Hudson, Hyer, Hannah, Lincoln, Sawyer, Crusoe, Piper, Holden, Camdon, Kyler, Clara, and Cache.
A poultry nutrition scientist, Danny worked at West Virginia University, Texas Extension Service, Southern States Co-op, Utah State University, Foster Farms, and decades as an independent consultant for conglomerates like Cargill, Sysco, and Tyson Foods. In Turlock, California, he ran a research farm of 20,000-50,000 chickens, relying on his three sons to share the labor, passing on his relentless work ethic. His curiosity took him to Russia and China, merging science with exploration.
A convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Danny’s faith was unwavering. He rarely missed a Sunday sacrament meeting. He gathered his young children for scripture time with great discipline. His faith no doubt left an immeasurable impact upon his posterity as numerous children and grandchildren served the Lord on missions and were sealed to their families in the temple. Though he infrequently displayed love through words or warmth—perhaps a mark of his reserved, brilliant mind—he cared deeply, fulfilling every duty to his family with quiet resolve. Socially apprehensive yet profoundly dedicated, he built a legacy of faith, intellect, and responsibility.
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