Robert J. Danhof, of Holland, died March 1 at the age of 87. He was a 1950 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. In 1960 he was named U.S. Attorney for the Western District, and at age 36 served as a delegate to the 1961-62 state Constitutional Convention, chairing the committee that drafted the judicial article, Article VI, of the 1963 Michigan Constitution. In 1962, Mr. Danhof joined Governor George Romney’s staff as legal counsel and was appointed to the new Court of Appeals in 1969 by the Governor. Judge Danhof was elected chief judge of the Court of Appeals in 1976 and served in that role until his retirement in 1992.
Chief Justice Robert P. Young called Judge Danhof a fine judge and a revered Michigan statesman, who in many ways was the architect of Michigan's judicial branch as it exists today. Court of Appeals chief judge William B. Murphy said Judge Danhof was a good and decent man, and a great leader who contributed enormously to the success of the Court of Appeals.
Judge Danhof is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggy; their four children, William, Kenneth, Carol, and Linda; and three grandchildren, Angela Meyers, Brian Danhof, and Michael Danhof of Muskegon. Visitation is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th Street, Holland. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Hope Church, 77 W. 11th Street, Holland.
