Hottel, Dr. Philip E.

Dr. Philip E. Hottel, 83, longtime Iowa City optometrist, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, in Williamsburg, Iowa. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. 

Memorial donations can be made in his memory to VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) or Compassus Hospice. 

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the Web at

Philip Earl Hottel was born March 18, 1926, in Wyaconda, Mo., the son of Nolan and Dolly “Irene” (Whitehead) Hottel. Following graduation from high school in Augusta, Ill., he served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. After his discharge from the service, he attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry and received a doctorate of optometry. On June 18, 1951, he married Thelma Bakken in Colorado Springs, Colo. He had been an optometrist in this area from 1948 until retiring in 1989. Upon retirement he and Thelma volunteered in numerous organizations on the local, state, national and international level. He spent a considerable portion of those years working with VOSH/ International. He and Thelma teamed with other professionals to provide eye care for the needy in various Third World countries.

He had been a longtime member of the Lions Club International and Optimist Club. He was a member of Lutheran churches in Iowa City (St. Paul's University Chapel, 41 years; Our Redeemer, 12 years), West Branch and Conroy.

His family includes his wife, Thelma; two sons, M. James Hottel (Ester) and Dr. Paul Hottel (Rachel); daughter, Kathryn Zimmerman (Dennis); eight grandchildren (including Wes and Elizabeth Hottel of Iowa City); a great-grandson; and one sister, Maridonna Hale.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jeffrey; and an infant grandson.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Dr. Hottel's family and his services.