John N. Hofstader 1916-2002

HOFSTADER, MURPHY, ANDERT, GEICK, GNEWUCH, HOWARD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/24/2011 at 14:21:52

John Hofstader
Estherville – Funeral services for John Hofstader, 86, of Estherville will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville with Father Jerry Cosgrove officiating. Interment will be held in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Estherville. He died on Monday, Dec. 16, 2002 at Avera Holy Family Health in Estherville.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville with a vigil service at 7 p.m. in the chapel.

John was born on March 24, 1916 in Currie, Minn., the son of Mathew and Teresa (Andert) Hofstader. John grew up in Currie and graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School. John’s father died a young age. John continued on the farm helping his mother. John was the youngest of nine children – six brothers and two sisters.

In 1940, John was united in marriage to Jean Murphy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. He had four children, Bonnie and the late Tom Geick of Las Vegas, Nev.; Gary and his wife, Diane of Wallingford, Iowa; Kathleen and her husband, Terry Gnewuch of Sioux City and Diana Howard of Carson City, Nev.

After his marriage he moved to Minneapolis, Minn. and he was at the University of Minnesota for two years. He moved back to Currie where he farmed for a few years until he moved to Esthervile in 1948.

While in Estherville, he worked at Tobins for a few years, Honeymead, Heidkies Electric and Golden Sun. In 1969 John and his wife, Jean built and owned Rosewood Manor until his death. John has been a resident at Rosewood Manor since December of 1992.

John was a longtime member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville, third degree member of Knights of Columbus and a member of the Elks Lodge.

Most especially, John enjoyed being a father and grandfather and all the special occasions he spent with his wife and family. He was an avid gardener and raised a large garden until the time of his illness in 1992.

He will be missed by the staff at Rosewood, his friends and especially his family.

John is survived by his wife, Jean, four children, 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, one sister and brother and many nieces and nephews.

He has been preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, one sister, one great-granddaughter, one granddaughter-in-law and one son-in-law, Tom. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 17, 2002)