Charles "Chuck" L. Van Hof

Charles “Chuck” Van Hof, of Crystal Lake, IL passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 21, 2019. He was born on August 31, 1949 in Chicago, IL.

Charles graduated from Chicago Christian High School in 1967. He earned a BA Degree in English from Calvin College in 1970 and a PhD in English from Loyola in 1979.

After completing graduate school, Charles accepted a position as Assistant Professor of English at Dordt College in Sioux City, Iowa. He didn’t stay there very long.

Drawn by his love for books and publishing, Charles moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and went to work for Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. At Eerdmans, Charles found his true calling as Managing Editor and later Senior Editor for history, religious and trade books.

He worked at Eerdmans for 24 years before leaving to accept a position at the University of Notre Dame Press. At UND, he worked as the Senior Acquisitions Editor for philosophy, theology, history, political theory and trade books.  He retired from the University of Notre Dame in 2014.

After retiring, Charles settled down with his wife, Gloria, and children Zachary and Virginia. While the family enjoyed taking road trips to Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa, Charles always found a reason to visit Chicago.

He cheered for the Chicago Bears, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Blackhawks. He enjoyed the Palmer House, Greek Town, the Chicago Lyric Opera and he believed that Pizzeria Due was required eating material.

Charles leaves to mourn his wife, Gloria Van Hof; children, Jane Van Hof, Jeremy (Jill) Van Hof, Christopher (Andrea) Van Hof, Zachary Van Hof and Virginia Van Hof; siblings, Thomas, deceased, (Mary) Van Hof and Janis (David) Versluis.

Charles was a kind and generous person who found a satisfying career early in life and never wavered from it. He was deeply loved by family and friends and he will be missed by all.

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