Sylvester D. Hoffmann 1932-2008

HERBST, HOFFMANN, TUCKER, THEN, ERNZEN, KRAMER, DECKER, KANGE, WELS, RIEDL, THIELEN

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 11/23/2008 at 13:25:20

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Sunday, November 23, 2008

Sylvester D. Hoffmann

EPWORTH, Iowa

-- Sylvester D. Hoffmann, 76, of 408 1st St. SW, Epworth, died at 11:50 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque.

Services will be at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Epworth, with the Rev. Dennis Cain officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Epworth, where military rites will be accorded by the Epworth American Legion-John White Post 650. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at Reiff Funeral Home, Epworth, where there will be a wake service at 3 p.m.

He was born on Aug. 6, 1932, in Dubuque, son of Theodore and Loretta (Herbst) Hoffmann. He received his education in the St. Donatus and rural Jackson County schools.

He married Mary Jane Tucker on Jan. 10, 1956, at Holy Family Catholic Church in New Melleray.

Sylvester farmed in the rural Epworth area until his retirement.

He was an Army Veteran, having served in the Korean War.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Parish in Epworth, a member of the Dubuque County Farm Bureau and the Eastern Iowa Polka Club.

Sylvester enjoyed passing time, traveling around the countryside, checking out the home farm and spending time visiting everyone at Silker's store, so much so, that he considered them his extended family.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Jane Hoffmann, of Epworth; a daughter, Marce Then, of Epworth; three sons, Marvin (Lynn) Hoffmann, of Epworth, Mike (Mary) Hoffmann, of Farley, and Gary (Lori) Hoffmann, of Epworth; 15 grandchildren, Bobbie Kramer, Greg Ernzen, Doug Ernzen, Bethany Then, Tyler Then, Tracy Hoffmann, Kristy Hoffmann, Alan Hoffmann, Abby Hoffmann, Heidi (fiance, Tom Lawler) Hoffmann, Matthew Hoffmann, Sarah Hoffmann, Jessie Hoffmann, Ashlee Hoffmann and Theodore Hoffmann; a great-grandchild, Dakota Kramer; siblings, Richard Hoffmann, of Benton, Wis., Floyd (Luetta) Hoffmann, of Independence, Clementine Hoffmann, of Bernard, Erma (J.J.) Decker, of Key West, Mary (Edmond) Lange, of Dickeyville, Wis., and Kenneth Hoffmann, of Dubuque; and brothers and sisters-in-laws, Robert (Dorothy Wels) Tucker, of Epworth, Ruth (Jack) Riedl, of Dubuque, Edna Mae (friend, George Wagner) Tucker, of Dubuque, Allan (Coletta) Tucker, of Worthington, Carl (Francine) Tucker, of Hopkinton, and Carolyn (Clyde) Thielen, of Peosta.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ronald "R.J." Hoffmann, on April 24, 2006; a son-in-law, Terry "T.T." Then, on July 18, 2005; and his mother and father-in-law, Oliver and Frances Tucker.

A Sylvester D. Hoffmann Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.

reifffuneralhomeinc.com.