“You knew that if your phone rang, you’d be on the phone for an hour,” mentioned Samantha Carmody, Hohn’s oldest of 4 kids.
And in the event you have been on the cellphone with Hohn, it’s possible he’d be chatting about the farm.
“If anybody would give him ten minutes, he would just like to talk about farming,” mentioned Jared Storm, Hohn’s neighbor and longtime good friend. “That was Mark’s true love.”
– Samantha Carmody, daughter of Mark Hohn
On Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, Hohn hopped on his tractor and headed off to the fields to stack bales.
Somehow, three of these bales ended up on prime of him.
“We don’t really know exactly what happened, and we’ll probably never know,” Carmody mentioned. “It looked like he was maybe stacking or restacking his bales. He’s kind of a perfectionist, so it looks like he may have gotten off his tractor to check spacing.”
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As many as 20 hours handed as Hohn lied beneath the bales. Temperatures dropped to the teenagers in a single day — with wind chills in the single digits — earlier than Hohn’s girlfriend, Kerri Brooks, would discover him.

Mark Hohn’s girlfriend, Kerri Brooks, was in a position to take away the bales that pinned him to the floor earlier than she referred to as 911. Submitted photograph
Carmody mentioned Brooks managed to push two bales off of Hohn, and had minimize the string of the third bale that was holding him to the floor.
“She didn’t even call 911 until she had the bales off,” Carmody mentioned.
Though Hohn had spent the chilly in a single day hours uncovered to the components, he was discovered with out frostbite. Carmody believes the household canine, Paisley, had stored him heat.
“She actually stayed with him while he was out there,” Carmody mentioned. “He had no frostbite. She laid on him and kept him warm, so she’s been getting spoiled.”
First responders from the Ethan Fire Department determined to not danger transporting Hohn, who had misplaced feeling in his legs. He was as an alternative airlifted to a Sioux Falls Hospital for remedy ensuing from crush wounds and lack of circulation.

The Hohn household believes their canine, Paisley, laid on Mark Hohn to maintain him heat whereas he was pinned under bales for practically 20 hours. Submitted photograph
Hohn spent three days in the hospital, continually surrounded by household as docs labored vigorously to restore the injury to his physique.
“They were talking about how he might lose both of his legs,” Carmody mentioned. “They ended up removing his right leg.”
Carmody mentioned Hohn was intubated, and unable to talk, however may talk by way of his eyes and arms.
“All [nine of] his brothers and sisters came. Grandma and grandpa came and saw him. Some of his nieces and nephews came and saw him,” Carmody mentioned. “He knows that he was loved and that we were all there.”
Despite the hope and prayers held by the household, Hohn succumbed to his accidents in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. He was 56 years previous.

Mark Hohn poses for an image together with his grandsons, Tucker, left, and Tracen, proper, whereas working with livestock. Submitted photograph
Hohn and his household had owned the land they farmed for over twenty years. Farming and agriculture was in Hohn’s blood, however much more necessary, was his household.
Hohn discovered methods to carry his two biggest aspects of life collectively.
“His grandkids — he loved it when they came out to the farm and checked cows with him and rode in the tractor,” Carmody mentioned.
Carmody — the oldest of Hohn’s 4 kids — has two kids, Tucker and Tracen.
“My kids, almost all of their great grandparents are alive. They have a lot of grandparents,” Carmody mentioned. “To keep their grandparents straight, they kind of came up with names.”
Hohn was Tucker and Tracen’s solely grandparent that farmed, so that they dubbed him Grandpa Moo Cow.
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But Hohn made certain everybody in his household felt his love.

Mark Hohn, far left; Clay Hohn, in uniform; and their household pose for a photograph after a Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan soccer recreation. Submitted photograph
If he wasn’t engaged on the farm, it’s possible you’d discover him watching his kids play soccer or basketball for Ethan, driving round to wave to the neighbors or stopping into his mother and father’ home — irrespective of the time of day.
If you had the time to talk with him, it’s possible he’d attempt to win you over with a narrative or a unclean joke.
“He loved telling stories about the bad things I did. He thought it was hilarious,” Carmody mentioned with amusing. “I was kind of a naughty child. I caused him to lose most of his hair.”
Yet, in some way, the dialog would at all times loop again to agriculture.
“Everything pretty well related to farming,” Storm mentioned. “The funny thing is his kids are the same age as mine. Between school events, athletic events and stuff like that, basically a lot of it came down to farming.”
In his extra non-public moments, he’d share how completely happy he was with the life and led and the household he had.
“He always told us growing up ‘My goal is to take care of my kids,’” Carmody mentioned. “He always said ‘When it’s my time, it’s my time’ and to live life to the fullest.”

Clay Hohn, left, stands together with his father, Mark Hohn, proper, and nephew Tucker, entrance, whereas engaged on the household farm. Submitted photograph
Hohn’s Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Dimock with a time of remembrance the day prior.
Carmody mentioned the quantity of methods family and friends have stepped in throughout their time of want has far exceeded her expectations.
“The amount of people that showed up [to Hohn’s services] was unreal,” Carmody mentioned. “I was shocked to see how many people showed up to the wake and funeral.”
But past exhibiting help to the household, Carmody mentioned their neighbors have stepped in by selecting up a lot of the farm work that’s left to be accomplished.
Storm was working in his store when his spouse advised him about Hohn’s accident over the cellphone.
“We flew over there [as soon as we heard] and thought ‘Oh, he’ll be resilient. He’ll make it,’” Storm mentioned. “We never thought it would’ve resulted in what happened.”
Since Hohn handed, Storm has been serving to feed and mattress the cattle, put together grain on the market and full different each day chores that the relaxation of Hohn’s household could need assistance with.

Mark Hohn pushes his grandson, Tracen, on a tricycle whereas his different grandson, Tucker, rides a bicycle. Submitted photograph
Storm mentioned it didn’t matter if Hohn had 10 issues to do on a given day — if Storm requested Hohn for assist, Hohn got here by way of.
“Hopefully I was the same way,” Storm mentioned. “It seems like I was busy a lot and never got to help him back as much as I’d liked to have.”
Storm is aware of if he was in want, Hohn can be the first one there.
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“If tables were turned, I know my family could’ve counted on him,” Storm mentioned. “We take care of each other and help each other. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Caromdy mentioned that the majority of the household doesn’t have the needed expertise to function the farm.
“For me, I don’t know anything about farming paperwork, so I have a lot of stuff I have to do,” Carmody mentioned.
She hopes the household can lease out the land to a different farmer and promote the farm tools and cattle.

The farm that Mark Hohn owned is situated roughly 6.5 miles west of the city of Ethan. The Hohn household estimates this aerial photograph was taken in summer time 2020. Submitted photograph
Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) discovered that in 2019, farm accidents in the United States resulted in 410 fatalities. Over 100 agriculture employees throughout the nation lose time from work because of this of farm-related accidents every day.
Carmody and Storm are each conscious of the plethora of dangers farmers face every single day on the farm. They each provided recommendation on how farmers can keep protected.
Storm’s largest concern is staying alert on the farm.
“You’re putting in a lot of hours, running behind on sleep,” Storm mentioned. “You might not be as alert as you should be.”
All the shifting components of the many alternative items of heavy equipment a farmer operates, Storm warns that accidents can occur even in a momentary lapse of consideration.
While Carmody factors to the risks of tractors and all-terrain automobiles that she operated rising up, her greatest concern is staying in communication with others whereas working.
“We never thought twice about him not answering [his phone] — it really wasn’t that uncommon,” Carmody mentioned. “He had 23 missed calls when they found him. If he would’ve had his phone that night, we would be having a totally different conversation right now.”
Farmers also needs to regulate their neighbors, and contemplate making common check-ins, in accordance with Carmody.
“If you think something looks weird with your neighbors, just call them,” Carmody mentioned. “If your neighbors don’t answer, maybe do a check.”
NIOSH has printed a bunch of hyperlinks devoted to farmer security, as has the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Farmers Union.

Mark Hohn, far proper, stands together with his mother and father and siblings for a household Christmas photograph. Submitted photograph
Mark Hohn is survived by his kids: Samantha (Nick) Carmody, Rhena (Brody Weiss) Hohn, Shawntel Hohn and Clay Hohn; his grandchildren: Tucker and Tracen Carmody; his girlfriend: Kerri Brooks; his mother and father: Wilibrd and Darlene Hohn; his brothers: Dave (Karen) Hohn, Rich (Paula) Hohn and Todd (Amy) Hohn; his sisters: Cheryl (Bruce) Anderson, Barb Pierkowski, Judy (Bob) Freeman, Bev (Scott) Johnson, Lisa (Jeff) Larson and Jan (Nick) Bahmuller; and the mom of his kids: Denise Hohn.
Mark was preceded in demise by a brother, Bob Hohn; toddler son and his beloved canine, Suzi.