Dwayne "Hoke" Atkins

Dwayne “Hoke” Atkins, 88 years old, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, March 19, 2022.  He was born December 26, 1933, in Atkinson, Nebraska, to the late Alden James “Pat” and Beulah Atkins. Genealogy traces the family to John Alden and Pricilla Mullins from the English ship the Mayflower that arrived in 1620.

The family moved from Atkinson to Wayne, Nebraska in 1943. After high school Hoke attended Wayne State Teachers College.  His education was interrupted for two years when he enlisted in the army as a paratrooper, often mentioning that the first ten times he flew in an airplane, he did not land with the perfectly good airplane! 

After his service to his country, he finished his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State Teachers College. He then continued his education by taking classes at the University of Nebraska, and later finished up his master’s degree at Northern Illinois University.

Hoke became “Mr. Atkins” when he started teaching mathematics at Grant Community High School in 1959.  He impacted the lives of many students during his 34 years of teaching mathematics, retiring in 1993.  He injected humor into his teaching everywhere he could. Education was always very important, and Hoke admired those who improved themselves with education. “What you know is equal to what you have learned, less what you have forgotten.” 

Early in his teaching career Hoke spent his summers working for local general contractors. Later in life he would purchase “handyman specials” and refurbish them, doing all the work himself. He was always willing to lend a hand to family and friends with their home improvement projects.  In retirement he spent most of his time maintaining and improving the landscape of his property and enjoying the wildlife.

Hoke was perhaps best known for his story telling combined with his unique sense of humor. Most of his stories would immediately cause one eyebrow to be raised by the focused listener, knowing for certain that the story would have a ridiculous ending.

Leaving behind to carry on his stories and zeal for life include his son, Dana (Kathy) Atkins; grandchildren, Michael (Kayla) Atkins and Robin Zofia Atkins; brothers, James (Sandra) Atkins, and Michael “Mick” (Linda) Atkins.  He also had a close-knit family of loving neighbors and friends.

In addition to his parents, Hoke was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Atkins, and his former wife, Marilyn Atkins.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Grant Community High School Foundation a 501(c)(3). Write Atkins Scholarship in the memo line. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to Grant Community High School Foundation, c/o Grant Community High School, 285 E Grand Avenue, Fox Lake, IL 60020.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 3 PM - 7 PM at Parkway by the Lake Banquets, 25212 W Lake Shore Dr, Ingleside, IL 60041.

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