Dr. Howard W. Hintz, 88, of Tiffin, died Monday afternoon, March 22, 2010, at Volunteers of America Autumnwood Care Center from complications from MDS-Acute Leukemia.

On November 27, 1921, he was born in Dubuque, Iowa to Fred H. and Maude (Mueller) Hintz. On June 15, 1952, he married Joy Alice Posey.

Survivors include a son, Loren Douglas (Margaret Vimmerstedt) Hintz of Chapel Hill, NC; two daughters, Connie (Mark) Nusbaum of Tiffin; and Julia (Dan) Smith of Dublin; seven grandchildren: Brandon, Amber, Lindsay, Cameron, Conner, Keaton and Carl; and four great-grandchildren: Kyle, Justin, Jacob and Chloe.

Preceding him in death along with his wife, Joy on March 30, 2009, are two sisters; Eleanor Dutcher of St. Paul, Minnesota and Marion Boling of Hobbs, New Mexico.

Howard graduated from Dubuque Senior High School. He loved nature and explored the woods and prairie of his home town. He attended Iowa State and then served during WWII in the US Army with the Special Engineering Detachment at Oak Ridge as part of the Manhattan project. After the war he completed his studies at Iowa State and then received his Ph.D. in entomology from Ohio State University. He taught numerous biology courses at Heidelberg College for 35 years, retiring in 1985. At Heidelberg he was advisor for P.U.R.E, People United for a Respectable Environment, organized Marine Biology field trips to Jamaica and lead hundreds of students to careers in the sciences.

He was a member of the Ohio Academy of Science, Tiffin Stamp Club, Rutherford B. Hayes Audubon Society, Izaak Walton League, and numerous other conservation organizations. He organized the regional Science Day, was president of the Buckeye Trails Association and coauthor of the Birds of Seneca County. He was an advocate for protecting local natural areas. He served on the Tiffin Tree Commission, wrote nature articles for the local newspapers and volunteered his time with adults and children teaching them about the local flora and fauna. He was well known for keeping the beard he grew for the Tiffin 1967 Sesquicentennial and for always picking up and recycling cans in town.

Howard loved traveling with his wife and children to visit friends, relatives, parks and natural areas. At home he taught his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren much about nature, gardening, politics, fun and life. He and his wife Joy were a team: visiting migrant camps, being peace advocates, collecting minerals, stamps and insects and exploring the world. Howard William Hintz was a great learner and his teachings will be cherished by many.

His Funeral Service will be 11:00 AM, Monday, March 29, 2010, at Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home, 236 S. Washington St., Tiffin, OH, 44883, 419-447-2424, with Pastor Doug DeVos officiating. Burial will follow in St. Jacob Cemetery, Republic.

Friends may visit with the family 6-8 PM, Sunday, March 28, 2010 at Hoffmann-Gottfried-Mack Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Buckeye Trail Association, P.O. Box 254, Worthington, OH 43085; Black Swamp Bird Observatory, 13551 W. State Route 2, Oak Harbor, OH 43449; or a charity of the donor's choice.

Letters of condolence may be sent, and the guest book signed at www.hgmackfuneralhome.com