Nicholas "Nick" Hodek

Nicholas (Nick) Joseph Hodek was born on April 8, 1957, in Alexandria, MN to Kenneth and Patricia (Malone) Hodek. He attended Jefferson Senior High School where he competed in wrestling and graduated in 1975.

After high school, Nick attended Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN. After one year of college, Nick moved to Moorhead, MN where he attended Minnesota State Community and Technical College. He took 2 years of Mechanical/Technical training. After finishing the program, Nick moved back to Alexandria, MN and attended Alexandria Technical College.  Nick started working at Douglas Machines while attending school from 1978 until his retirement of 38 years. When back in Alexandria, he met up with the girl he had asked to roller-skate years before at the Long Prairie Roller Rink and befriended in high school. Nick and Jodi Oothoudt were married on April 11, 1980, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN. In this union, they were blessed with two daughters, Hayley, and Jayde.  His daughters have fond memories of their dad soaking up the sun with a good book, fighting over the one bathroom they all shared, biking to the beach, and tubing at the family home on Lake Mary.  Nick was a bit of a pushover when it came to his girls and a proud moment of his was when he was a dancing dad in the girls’ dance shows.

Nick was an avid hunter and fisherman. One of his favorites was pheasant hunting with his dog.  He also would enter many fishing competitions with his friend Steve.  In his photographs, he would know every fish size, what lake, how many pheasants, the weather, and whom he was with. Nick loved to ride his Harley. His grandchildren knew grandpa was coming home from miles away. Nick also loved to dance to some of his favorite music; Tom Petty, Journey, and Neil Diamond. Nick was kind, funny, caring, and was best known for his hair.

Nick passed away Wednesday July 20, 2022, peacefully at his home at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife, Jodi; daughters, Hayley Hodek and Jayde (Olai) Norby both of Alexandria, MN; grandchildren, Holden Klug, Scout, Syda, and Van Norby; brother, Bruce (Jan) Hodek Roseville, MN; sisters-in-law, Julie (Corey) Olson of Little Falls, MN and Kim (Brad) Arneson of Corcoran, MN and their families; nieces, Jessica Kennedy, Nicole (Blake) Peterson, and Alexandra (TJ) Kell. He is proceeded in death by his parents; brother, Casey Hodek, and Hayley’s partner, Mike Tordsen.

A Celebration of Nick’s Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice of Douglas County (MN).

Arrangements are with Andersons Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net