Cornelis Hoonhout Jr., son of Cornelis (1899-1959) and Catharina Maria Louisa Wallaart (1907-1999), was born 19 April 1940 in the Netherlands. He and his family immigrated to the US in 1949. "Case," as he was called, graduated from Okemos High School in 1958. Case played high school football under Coach Kiley. After graduation Case immediately began attending Michigan State where he finished his university education in 1965 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Case and Miss Margaret Ann "Peggy" Sweetland married in 1964. Peggy, daughter of William and Elizabeth Sweetland, was a graduate of East Lansing High School.
The following write up on Case tells his life story and describes his passion for veterinary medicine.
Dr Hoonhout immigrated with his parents, to the United States in 1949 from Amsterdam, Netherlands. Ever since he was 9 years old, he knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. He graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary medicine in 1965. Shortly after, he moved to Mt. Clemens and quickly became a partner at Patterson Veterinary Hospital for 40 years.
Dr Hoonhout was meant to be a veterinarian, he was gifted at surgery, compassionate, an innovator in the field, and had an amazing way with people and animals. Early on he designed prosthetics for animals in need, removed heartworms surgically from the heart prior to other treatment options and was one of the first to do cataract surgery before there were specialists. Of recent many of you with limping dogs, have most likely had an ACL or 2 repaired by Dr H.
In 1984, Dr Hoonhout and his family purchased Maxwell Farms, the site in which Stony Creek Vet resides. After rehabbing one of the barns into his families home, he felt the other barn on the property would make a great veterinary hospital. After working full days at Patterson vet, he moonlighted at night in construction, building his dream clinic for retirement. In 2004, Stony Creek Vet opened on a beautiful sleepy dirt road just a stones throw from Dr H’s house.
Dr Hoonhout was very proud to be a veterinarian, his genuine love for animals and the profession shined through every day of his 60 year career. Always going the extra mile to ensure his clients and patients had the best care. In his later years, when asked about retiring, he often replied “ I can’t retire yet, there are too many animals that need me!”
The above quote was copied from the Stony Creek Veterinary Hospital Facebook page, dated 6 April 2025. The hospital is located in Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan.
Case Hoonhourt succumbed to cancer 8 March 2025.
A thank you goes to a kind and anonymous OHS alumni for notification of Dr. Hoonhout's passing.