A transcription of pages 195-469,
Family Histories from the Verdigre Centennial Book
Thanks to the Verdigre Library and its volunteers for making this available.
 
The index below only includes the husband and wife for each family.
The maiden name for the wife is used if listed.
For other names, use the search on the Home Page.

Index's A-I, J-P, & Q-Z

J. J. VAN HOFF

Education is a Priceless Treasure. The teacher who believed and practiced those words ended one of the longest careers in Nebraska public School education in May of 1955. Joseph “Van” John Van Hoff retired after thirty-two years as superintendent of the Verdigre Public Schools - District 83.

[pg 444 photo Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Van Hoff]

That career began in rural Knox County in 1914. Having earned a teaching certificate at Warrensburg State Normal School (now Central Missouri State University) and unable to find a job, the new teacher left for Omaha. There he heard that teachers were needed in northern Nebraska. So with $10.00 in his pocket, Van took the train to Verdigre to his first teaching job - District 45 (known as the Mott School) a short distance southwest of town. Rumor has it that he roomed at the Otto Vonasek farm. One of his students was Thelma Vonasek Johnson, mother of Marvin Johnson.

The following year found him teaching at District 53 (Meadowview School) located some fifteen miles northwest of Verdigre. He roomed at the Zdenek Vonasek farm. The students included Walt Vonasek and Walt Dobrichovsky.

From there Van went to Center where he taught for two years. In September of 1918, he became superintendent of the Verdigre School, as well as football coach. He continued through the 1929-1930 school year. During this time, Van earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Nebraska and in June of 1929 was married to Florence M. Thull of Omaha. Mrs. Van Hoff remained in Omaha to manage a drug store in which the couple had an interest and Van returned to Verdigre to complete the 1929-1930 school year. Commenting on his reappointment for that year, the May 30, 1929, Verdigre Citizen reported that Mr. Van Hoff was “a man of high ideals, unquestioned honor and integrity, with a wonderful faculty for handling school affairs in a practical and sensible way.”

A major accomplishment of those years was the accreditation of the school with the University of Nebraska. Additionally, the Verdigre School had the only “Smith-Hughes Vocational Agriculture School in Knox County” - cited in the August 29, 1929, Verdigre Citizen. This effort, the forerunner of the F. F. A. was the direct result of the federal Smith-Hughes Act of 1917.

Resigning in May of 1930, Van returned to Omaha to assist in managing the family drugstore business.

Recalled as superintendent in 1935, Van continued in that role until May of 1955. In reading the intervening issues of the Verdigre papers, one is struck by the evidence that in a rural village it is not possible to head the school without being almost totally immersed in the community. There are numerous references to community functions including many drives as the Red Cross and Infantile paralysis (now the March of Dimes). In almost ever instance, there was evidence of community, school, and family involvement with dollar quotas being exceeded. During these years, he pursued a graduate degree earning a Master of Arts in history in 1938. There were also efforts to expand student interests. One of these was the annual County Government Day. Each senior could choose the office in which he or she was interested and spend the day with the elected official who held that office. Another was the annual District Music Contest held at O’Neill.

Although Mrs. Van Hoff, who held a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English, often substituted, the war years found her teaching full time. Both were active members of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

Retirement came at the end of the 1954-55 school year. However, that was in name only. There were several honors on this occasion. Perhaps the most impressive was the community farewell which occurred on May 8, 1955. A full page ad in the May 5 Verdigre Eagle listed the names of the over 600 graduates of the high school during the years of Mr. Van Hoff’s administration. At the program, the Van Hoffs were presented with a souvenir book and a check representing donations from graduates from 27 states, Alaska, and four foreign countries. The president of the school board, Emil Jerman, paid Van a real tribute with the words “he never wasted a cent of the taxpayer’s money, but still maintained a good school.”

The Van Hoffs moved to Omaha where Van continued to teach at Boys Town and later at Brownell-Talbot. At Boys Town, which was one of the largest private schools in the state, he taught social sciences and mathematics. Similar subjects were taught at Brownell-Talbot, an exclusive private school for boys and girls. Van taught through the summer before his death in March, 1967. Mrs. Van Hoff continues to reside in Omaha.

Page 444, 445