CLARENCE HOFER 1909-1976

RIETZ, HOFER, VOSHELL, LANTZ, HANSON, OLIVER, COUSINS, KULISH, NEITH, WHITE, MEISNER, LERCH LARSON, SHAW, DENZIN, PFISTER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 10/12/2005 at 20:08:50

Clarence Hofer

Clarence Henry Hofer, son of Ben and Molly (Rietz) Hofer, was born April 29, 1909 on a farm near Elgin, Iowa.

He was baptized on December 16th, 1954 and confirmed in the Christian Faith on December 25th, 1954 at the Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, Iowa.

On March 21, 1931 Clarence was united in marriage to Bessie Voshell. To this union eleven children were born: Ena Mollie (Mrs. LaVerne Lantz), Milwaukee, Wisc.; Beulah (Mrs. Robert Hanson), Elgin, Ia.; Donna (Mrs. Val Oliver), Nashville, Tenn.; Florence (Mrs. Carl Cousins), Colorado Springs, Colo.; Louis, deceased; Eva (Mrs. Frank Kulish), Marion, Ia.; Darlene (Mrs. Wm. Neith), Waukesha, Wisc.; Wanda (Mrs. Lawrence White), Cedar Rapids; Mary of Madison, Wisc.; Dean of Amana and Alice Hofer, Cedar Rapids, Ia.

Clarence married a second time on August 2, 1969. His new wife, Selma Meisner, brought with her seven children for whom Clarence had a very special affection. They were Larence Lerch, Elkader, Ia.; Elva Mae (Mrs. Mervin Larson), Postville, Ia.; George Lerch of Okla.; Lyle Meisner of Volga, Ia.; Ivan Meisner, Dorothy (Mrs. Eldon Shaw) and Glen Meisner, of Elkader, Ia.

At an early age Clarence worked as a farm hand near West Bend, Iowa. He established his permanent home in the Elgin area where he spent his working years as a farmer. For almost twenty seasons he picked corn for the Elgin Canning Factory. His last seven years were spent near Elkader.

He died on Sunday, November 28, 1976 at the Central Community Hospital in Elkader, Iowa, after a prolonged fight with cancer. He was 67 years of age.

Preceding Clarence in his death were his first wife, Bessie, his parents and step-mother, Loretta, one son, Louis, two sisters, Bertha and Rose and one brother, Louis.

Clarence is survived by his wife, Selma, two sisters, Helen (Mrs. Wm. Denzin) and Mary Ann (Mrs. Wm. Pfister), both of Elgin; five brothers, John, Ben Jr., Alfred, Paul and Sam, ten children, seven step-children, forty-nine grandchildren, six great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 1st at 1:30 at the Elgin Lutheran Church with Rev. Duane Berg officiating. Mrs. Kevin Schmitt was organist and was accompanied by the quartet of Clarence Schori, John Tillotson, Ed Klingman and Arden Greener.

Casket bearers were Victor Lantz, Mark Cousins, Donald, Dennis, Thomas and Kenneth Hanson. Honorary Casket Bearers were Todd Cousins, Keith and Bobby Hanson, Larry and Jeremy White, Mike Oliver, William Neith and Scott Hofer.

Burial was in the Elgin Cemetery.

Muehlethaler-Wright Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.

Submitter has no further information.