Hoffman, Elmer L. (1908-1998)

HOFFMAN, HERBST, MARBACH

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/1/2007 at 10:24:11

Elmer L. Hoffman, 90, of LeMars, died Sunday, Aug. 30, 1998, at the Indian Hills Nursing and Rehab Center in Sioux City.

Mr. Hoffman was born Feb. 18, 1908, in Merrill, the son of Louis and Christina (Herbst) Hoffman. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A., in LeMars. He attended country school in Stanton Township. He had served several years in the Iowa National Guard. Mr. Hoffman had farmed south of LeMars from 1923 to 1935.

He married Helen M. Marbach of Ruble on May 29, 1935. The couple operated the Ruble Store, and Mr. Hoffman wired farmsteads for the Rural Electrification, when it first entered Plymouth County. He wired the first original farmstead in the county, and in the late 1970’s he wired the last original homestead with his son, Doug.

In 1941, Mr. Hoffman returned to the family farm, operating it until 1949. During this time he also owned and operated Hoffman Electric. He served as Power Use advisor for Plymouth County REC, retiring in 1972. From 1972 until 1983, he operated Hoffman Electric with his son, Doug.

Elmer and Helen enjoyed spending the winter months with friends in Mesa, Ariz. He enjoyed working in his flower garden. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A., in LeMars.

Survivors include his wife, Helen, of LeMars; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gerald and Jean Hoffman of Seattle, Wash., and Douglas and Lilas Hoffman of LeMars; two daughters and sons-in-law, Norma and George Starr of Sioux City and Karen and Thomas Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; nine grandchildren, Julie Hoffman, Laura Hoffman, Kent Hoffman, Brent Hoffman, Kyle Hoffman, Tim Starr, Hope (Starr) Bieler, Eric Lindberg and Kris Lindberg; three great-grandchildren, Darcy Starr, Jacob Bieler and Brandon Bieler; a sister Gertrude Donlin of LeMars; three brothers, Werner Hoffman of Sioux City, Louis Hoffman of Jeffers, Minn., and Theodore Hoffman of LeMars.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren in infancy.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at St. John's Lutheran Church, ELCA, LeMars with the Revs. Gary Landsness of St. John's Lutheran Church, ELCA, LeMars, and Dick Steffens of St. John Lutheran Church of Merrill officiating.

Interment will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in LeMars, with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m. A 6:30 p.m. prayer service is planned Wednesday at the funeral home.

~source: LeMars Daily Sentinel