Hop Howlett
February 12, 1950 - February 14, 2018
Hop Howlett, 68, passed away peacefully February 14, 2018 following a valiant fight with Parkinson's disease.
Hop was born February 12, 1950, to Holly C. and Gladys (Brasel) Howlett in Kansas City, Kansas. After graduating from Washington High School in 1968, he entered West Point Military Academy in New York. His military service took him to Germany 1973-1976 where he served with the Berlin Brigade. He then served as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in Belvoir, Virginia. As the unit commander of a bomb squad in the Washington D.C. area, he and his personnel provided support to the U.S. Secret Service for protection of the President and foreign heads of state against terrorist violence. He was honorably discharged in December 1978.
Hop then began his career being hired at Idaho Nuclear Laboratory (INL) near Arco, Idaho in 1979, where he was certified as a nuclear plant engineer and shift supervisor for reactor plant operations as part of the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Program. In June of 1988, Hop founded TECHSTAR, Inc., a multi-service consulting firm specializing in the development of custom training programs and materials for industrial and nuclear facilities. He wrote three books and developed many courses he taught and presented around the U.S. and abroad internationally.
Hop enjoyed big game hunting, carpentry, and flying his Cessna 182. His greatest delight was giving tractor rides to his grandkids.
Hop is survived by his wife, Jane Howlett, Pocatello, ID; his children, Dirk (Shannon) Howlett, Richland, WA; Adam (Angela) Howlett, Beaver Falls, PA; Audrey (Adrian) Bianez, Kennewick, WA; two brothers, Donald (Sue) Howlett, Lancing, KS; Randy (Carolyn) Howlett, Basehor, KS; and five grandchildren, Elysia Howlett, Shayne Howlett, Faye Lilly Howlett, Maverick Elijah Holly Howlett, and Juliette (Devin) Bianez- Robinson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services for Hop will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church, 1350 Baldy Avenue, Pocatello, ID. He will be interred at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Memories and condolences may be shared with his family online at wilksfuneralhome.com. His family suggests memorial contributions be made to one of the following options in place of floral tributes:
1. Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)
2. Parkinson's Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org)
3. West Point Association of Graduates by telephone (845) 446-1500

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Idaho State Journal from Feb. 27 to Feb. 28, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Hop Howlett

4 Entries

Mario Gonzalez

October 5, 2023

I read his books The industrial Operators Handbook..he was a very profesional person...my condolences an rest in place.

John Garcia

March 31, 2021

Every time I watch the movie The Hunt for Red October on TV I can't help but remember Hop Howlett. He used scenes from the movie to emphasize the use of repeat backs in communication. I was surprised and saddened to learn he had passed away some 3 years ago. I was impressed by his incredible memory. Hop could go around a class room and recall everyone's name. As an Army brat I was taught to respect Military Academy graduates, which of course Hop was. He taught a few classes I attended at Hanford, where I worked for many years. It was also interesting to learn some his family lives here in the Tri Cities WA where I do. Farewell Hop,see you on the other side.

Dominic DiBari

June 26, 2019

I am so sorry to hear of Hop's passing. I met Hop through work and I appreciated his passion for teaching and using stories to explain the value of Human error prevention tools to his students. I learned so much from his him and his books. Hop was a great instructor and story teller and will be missed by his professional community. To his family and friends, thank you for sharing him with us through his many days away from home while he delivered great training and advice. Dominic

Steve and Rita Stoker

March 3, 2018

I met Hop at NRF while he was a manager. His gentle kindness and easy to approach personality was unique at that facility. Only years later did I discover that he was a brother-in-Christ as our paths crossed at University Bible Church. He and Jane loved on many people while there; both are much appreciated. His passing is sorrowful yet also joyful that this suffering has ended. Jesus has prepared a place for him and called him home. We pray that the Howlett family is comforted and blessed as they journey forward.

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