Alexander William Hoss

Alexander (or Alex, as he was known to rest of the world) was born in the early morning hours of June 12, 1989, the second of our three wonderful children. From the start, he was an “easy” child, and even as the eventual middle child, was a source of both joy and pride. While going through pictures, some of which appear below, we couldn’t find any where he wasn’t wearing a huge smile, and enjoying life.

Alex, being less inclined towards soccer (like his brothers), really found his niche in High School when he participated in Junior Air Force ROTC, eventually reaching the level of commander in his senior year. Whether his diligence and excellent study habits contributed to that, or vice versa, we were so proud of his accomplishments.

After graduating from Woodbury High School in 2007, Alex become our second University of Minnesota student. As a middle child, who could sometimes break with “tradition”, Alex elected to attend the Twin Cities campus, rather than UMD like his older brother, Chris. He enrolled in the College of Science and Engineering, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics in 2012. Like his older brother, though, he “enjoyed” college so much that he turned it into a 5 year experience. Geoff, like his older brother, followed in Alex’s footsteps attending the Twin Cities campus. Unlike both his older brothers, though, Geoff stuck with the more traditional 4-year plan.

While at the U, Alex was an active member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. There, he was able to mingle with both some of his high school friends, as well as make more lifelong friends and contacts. He was fully immersed in the fraternity experience, living in the frat house the after a one-year stint in the dorms.

Alex had started his most recent job just a month before the accident that ended his 29 year run. He was so happy with the job and the people he was working with. We had a touching, and tear-filled conversation with Mario and Monica last night, owners of the company he contracted for. Alex, like all three of our children, wasn’t especially into sharing a lot of details, and was definitely not prone to self-promotion. Being able to hear such positive feedback from the people whom he’d been working for, and interacting with, for the past month truly warmed our grief-ridden hearts.

Alex held, and will forever hold, a very special place in our lives. The feeling of loss right now, for Chris, Geoff, Julie and I seems truly overwhelming. We do believe, though, that time will help heal, but that the hole will always remain. We take solace in knowing that even though he left us way too soon, that he was truly happy at the end of his time here, and that we will all be reunited again one day.

Alex is survived by his brothers, Chris and Geoff, and sister-in-law Monica. His surviving grandparents are Henry and Geraldine (Gerrie) Solei. Chris and Monica blessed him with a nephew and a niece – Luca and Lila. Surviving immediate family members include:

Joan and Pat Figge (godfather) – Aunt/Uncle

Janet and Fred Benson – Aunt/Uncle

Judy Bair – Aunt

Mark Solei and Jody Osell – Uncle

Scott and Donna Solei – Uncle/Aunt

Tracey Solei (godmother) – Aunt

Alex was preceded in death by:

Carl and Mary Hoss – Paternal grandparents

Jerry Hoss - Uncle

This tragedy will never make sense to us, but this passage (posted by his great-aunt Renee on Facebook)

puts things in perspective for us:

Love the people

God gave you

Because He will

Need them back

One day.

Joe and Julie Hoss