Monica Jean Hinkhouse, 76, West Branch
Obituaries · March 26, 2025
Monica Jean Hinkhouse, 76, of West Branch, passed away Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Solon Care Center.
Visitation will be held 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch, with funeral services to follow immediately after at 11 a.m.
Burial will take place at Springdale Cemetery in Springdale.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Iowa Chapter or to the donor’s choice.
Monica was born on Christmas Eve in 1948, the daughter of Melvin and Jean (Dearborn) Thomsen, and grew up on her family’s farm near Wyoming, Iowa, east of Anamosa.
She was the eldest of three children, with two younger brothers, Mark and Terry. From a young age, Monica showed a love for music, learning to play the piano and accompanying the high school chorus and small group contest singers.
She was also a cheerleader and a talented musician, playing the oboe in the band and the xylophone in the marching band.
A social and outgoing person, she cherished the friendships she made throughout her life.
One of Monica’s lifelong passions was golf. She began playing at the age of 13 with her mother, aunt, and cousin on ladies’ day and continued to enjoy the game throughout her life. She often shared fond memories of their outings and remained an avid golfer.
After graduating from Midland High School in Wyoming, Iowa, in 1967, Monica attended Iowa State University, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
While taking a sociology class, she met Cliff Hinkhouse, and the two later married after her graduation on July 24, 1971, at Stone City.
Monica began her career as a physical education teacher before dedicating her time to raising their two children, Amy and Chris, on the family farm near West Branch.
Once her children started school, Monica worked at the Hoover Library for a few years and later in the middle school library.
She was an active member of the community, enjoying Bridge in both ladies’ and couples’ groups and playing piano at the Lutheran church, where she and her family were members.
Amy and Chris both followed in their parents’ footsteps, attending Iowa State University. In 2001, the Hinkhouse family was honored as ISU’s Family of the Year.
In retirement, Monica and Cliff purchased a home in Florida, where they spent winters golfing and enjoying the warm weather.
During the summers, they helped on the farm, with Monica navigating their semi-truck while hauling grain, and golfing whenever the weather allowed.
She is survived by her husband Cliff of West Branch; two children: Amy (Jason) Neufeld of Lenexa, Kan., and Chris (Elizabeth) Hinkhouse of West Liberty; six grandchildren: Gabe, Frederick, Henry and Daniel Hinkhouse, and Adler and Grayden Neufeld; brothers: Terry Thomsen of Altoona, Iowa, and Mark Thomsen of Owatonna, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
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