Allan William Westhoff

Allan William Westhoff

May 22, 1938 – September 17, 2026

Allan William Westhoff, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away at the age of 88 in Portland, Oregon.

Al was born on May 22, 1938, in Prairieburg, Iowa, to Elizabeth (Betty) and William (Dick) Westhoff. The oldest of four boys, he grew up in Monticello, Iowa, where family, faith, community, and sports became important parts of his life. He attended Sacred Heart School and developed a lifelong love of athletics. Al played baseball and basketball well into his 20s and eventually became a referee, a role he enjoyed for more than 30 years.

Al was a devoted Catholic throughout his life. His faith was nurtured from an early age at Sacred Heart, where he served as an altar boy. His love of Monticello, Iowa remained to the end, always hoping to move back “home”.

Sports were never simply something Al watched—they were one of the ways he connected with people. He was a huge Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan, and following his favorite teams was a lifelong passion. He could always be counted on to know the latest scores, follow the season, and have an opinion about the game. That love of sports only grew as his family did.

When his grandchildren began competing, Al became one of their most enthusiastic fans. He followed their sporting events with great interest and pride, showing up to cheer them on whenever he could. He expanded his appreciation of sports to include tennis and volleyball, becoming a devoted spectator and always eager to know how his grandchildren were doing. Their accomplishments, both on and off the court and field, brought him tremendous joy. Whether watching the Cubs, cheering for the Hawkeyes, or sitting in the stands for one of his grandchildren’s games, Al simply loved sports.

Al’s professional life took him through real estate, insurance, and ownership of a Sears Catalog Store. But his greatest professional passion was the fair business.

The Great Jones County Fair in Monticello was Al’s first love and ultimately led him to a career that would take him across the country. After relocating to Oregon, he managed the Josephine County Fair in Grants Pass for more than 20 years. During his tenure, the fair expanded its horse racing, improved its facilities, and grew in attendance. Al had a special talent for bringing people together. He built lasting relationships with vendors, community members, and supporters, many of whom continued to support the fair because of the relationships they had developed with him.

Later in his career, Al became manager of the Yamhill County Fair in McMinnville. Once again, he brought his experience, energy, and vision to a fair that was struggling, helping restore it to a thriving community event.

While Al took great pride in his work, his greatest accomplishment was the family he and Judith built together.

Al married Judith Stecklein on May 7, 1960, in Cascade, Iowa. Their marriage of more than six decades was the foundation of a family that grew to include three children: the late Jacqueline Rogozinski (Tony), Douglas Westhoff (Julie), and Angela Westhoff-Johnson (Paul).

And then came the grandchildren, who held a particularly special place in Al’s heart: Connor Andreesen (Hayley), Elizabeth Johnson Cantor (Jake), Andrew Westhoff, and Catherine Johnson Farley (Jeffrey). Al was immensely proud of each of them. He loved hearing about their lives, following their activities, and, especially, watching them compete. Whether sitting in the stands, cheering from the sidelines, or simply talking about the latest game, Al found enormous happiness in being their grandfather.

Those who knew Al will remember his easy ability to connect with people, his enthusiasm for sports, his dedication to the fairs he loved, his deep Catholic faith, and his genuine interest in the lives of others. He had a gift for making relationships last. His life was filled with family, faith, friendships, community, and a great many games, events, and memories along the way.

Al is survived by his immediate family as well as his brothers, Dave (Kathy) of Des Moines, Iowa; Gordon (Lynn) of Bakersfield, California; and Rick (Theresa) of Monticello, Iowa.

The family would like to thank the staff of Laurelhurst Adult Care Home for the love, compassion, and care they provided throughout Al’s final stages of life.

A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 2, at 1:00p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Oregon.