Marilyn Johanna Hoover

Marilyn Hoover, 95, of Davenport, passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at MercyOne-Genesis Medical Center, Davenport.

A Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 6, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Bettendorf, followed by Memorial Mass at 11:00 a.m. After mass, there will be a luncheon and a Celebration of Life gathering in the gymnasium at Our Lady of Lourdes. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery, located at 1013 Park Ave W, Princeton, IL 61356, on February 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to coral.org.

Marilyn Johanna Hoover, daughter of Grace Agnes and William Albert McClure, was born November 22, 1930 in Spring Valley, Illinois. She grew up in DePue, Illinois and was there until she married Warren Anderson Hoover on Thanksgiving Day and her birthday, November 22, 1952. Together they had two children, Mary Lynn and William Wesley.

Dr. Marilyn Hoover began her formal education by attending LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College, where she obtained an associate degree in 1958. Following this, she served for 10 years (1958-1968) as the chief medical technologist at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton, Illinois. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree (1967) from Illinois Wesleyan, her Master of Science (1969) and Doctor of Philosophy (1972) degrees at Illinois State University (ISU).

Dr. Hoover was the first ever recipient of a $1,000 graduate scholarship awarded by The American Society of Medical Technologists. In year three of her doctoral program, Marilyn studied with Dr. C.F. Rabinow at The Medical School, University of Western Ontario, Canada. She also received the Osborne A. Brines Fellowship from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists for study of mycology and microbiology at Emory University and the National Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, GA. She was awarded an Illinois State University Fellowship to support her studies as well as a three-year National Defense Education Act Title IV doctoral scholarship.

Application of her academic pursuits began in her professorial roles at Marycrest College, where she taught biology for two years (1972-1974) and was the Quad City Medical Technology Program Director. In 1974, she accepted a faculty position at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL and was there until she retired at 65. While at Augustana, Dr. Hoover served as Program Director of the Medical Technology Program from 1976-1995; she was also a full professor in the biology department, and taught courses including microbiology and immunology. Over the years, she mentored numerous students, including many notable minority students, who now hold professional positions in fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, and medical technology, to name a few.

An avid scuba diver until age 84, she found joy in many pursuits. Never afraid to try something new, from parasailing to water skiing, ballooning, mopeds, motorcycles, and scuba diving. Marilyn especially loved football, and in 1973, she performed physicals on the St. Louis Cardinals players. She is quoted as saying to one of the players, “You really are giants”, and the reply came, “No, we are Cardinals”. She enjoyed music and playing the piano. Her dive trips and Augustana travels took her around the world, and Marilyn embraced it all.

Marilyn is survived by her children, Mary Lynn (Gary Lawrence) Engelmann and William Wesley (Cynthia Ella) Hoover; grandchildren: Christina Lynn (Jon) Kruse, Brett Warren (Ashley Rae) Engelmann, Elliot Lawrence (Michelle Marie Hurlihy) Engelmann, Roderick Warren Hoover, Michael James Hoover, and Lauren Elizabeth (Grant) Spranger; great-grandchildren: Grace Johanna Kruse, Calvin Thomas Kruse, Oliver Lawrence Kruse, Carter Warren Engelmann, Abigail Lynn Engelmann, Shay Piper Engelmann, Dax Warren Engelmann, and Paul Warren Spranger.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband and by twin great-granddaughters, Nora and Natalie Spranger.