According to friends and family, James Madison professor Doug Hoekstra was one of the wittiest and funniest professors at MSU.

Hoekstra, 63, died Sunday from complications after undergoing knee replacement surgery early last week, according to friends of the family.

Hoekstra's son, David, said the family is doing as well as can be expected and has received a lot of condolences from Hoekstra's colleagues and friends.

For many, Hoekstra's death was "shocking."

Born Nov. 19, 1942, Hoekstra was a political science professor who specialized in the American presidency, Congress and the effect of beliefs and values on the development of national policies.

He received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from MSU and began teaching students in 1970, said Ron Dorr, a part-time James Madison rhetoric and humanities instructor and Hoekstra's friend.

Dorr said the James Madison college was an experimental college when Hoekstra began teaching, and he was a "guiding light" and significant figure in the establishment of the college.

"He had a gift for language and stating things well," Dorr said. "He said what he had to say, and then he'd shut up.

"He didn't like to hear himself talk."

Dorr said Hoekstra was an amazing professor who was able to draw current events into his courses and integrate timely issues into his teaching. Hoekstra was described by many people as one of the most well-spoken and superb lecturers.

"Doug had high standards for himself, his students, the university and even the country," Dorr said.

Nathan Triplett, a 2006 graduate, said he took two courses with Hoekstra and received a recommendation from him to attend graduate school at the University of Michigan.

"He's one of the few that you can say without any doubt that he touched the lives of the students he taught in the way that he taught," Triplett said. "He wouldn't accept less than your best work."

Triplett said he felt lucky he had the opportunity to be in Hoekstra's courses.

David Hoekstra said his father had trouble walking great distances, but loved to travel.

"He had hoped with this knee replacement surgery he could finally travel overseas," David said.

James Madison Dean Sherman Garnett said part of the shock of Hoekstra's death was the fact that it was due to a rather common procedure.

"He was a very healthy person, but he had trouble getting around," Garnett said. "(Knee replacement surgery is) pretty routine for old people like us."

Garnett said Hoekstra's sudden death is a tremendous loss and has "shaken the community."

"We wouldn't (have) a university if it wasn't for teachers — and he was a great teacher," he said. "These are rare men and women, and Doug was a great example of that."