Hoefler, Bernard 1869-1949 & Elizabeth Goergen Family

HOEFLER, GOERGEN, SCHAEFER, LARROSCH

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg -volunteer (email)
Date: 1/19/2026 at 04:39:34

Hoefler, Bernard 1869 – 1949 and Elizabeth Goergen Family

This biography of the Bernard and Elizabeth Hoefler family was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page 113. This narrative was further researched and composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

The full narrative including additions to the church book story were made from various sources including records from the web site www.iagenweb.org/sioux; family reports and vitals collected from ancestry.com records and ancestry’s public member trees, Find A Grave index, internet searches and various local archives on this web site.

Disclaimer: Names, dates and places may vary from one source to another, but have been stated in this biography as presented in the source. Family data taken from ancestry.com public member trees is subject to the submitter of data to ancestry.com and was not fully verified by this submitter. Information was cross checked from other sources when possible.

Bernard Hoefler family story from the St. Joseph’s Church book page 113.

Bernard (Barney) Hoefler. There was a trend of early settlers coming from eastern Iowa in the early 1880s. Foremost was Joseph Hoefler, who came and Homesteaded land and then sold cheap to whoever would buy and brought many people from eastern Iowa this way. They went on until Joseph married Mary Anna Georgen in 1891 and settled on the farm where Lloyd Holles new lives. They were a happy couple until wife Mary died in 1900 leaving five small children. The following year Joseph moved to Kansas with the children. Others of the Hoefler family that followed Joseph from eastern Iowa were his brother, John who lived in the place where Catherine Bernard now lives. But he also followed Joseph to Kansas sometime later. Then his sister Bernadine Hoefler, who has married Frederich Lechtenberg and lived on a farm north of Granville where all of the Lechtenburg children grew up.

Bernard Hoefler was born August 1, 1869 at New Vienna, Iowa; He married Elizabeth Goergen on June 20, 1899 and lived southeast of town, the place still belonging to the Hoefler family. Bernard died September 9, 1949 and Elizabeth died January 11, 1971. The Bernard Hoefler children are as follows:
Joseph Theodore, born September 15, 1900. Bernard Jr. born October 15, 1901 and died October 28, 1901. Anthony Frederich, born August 11, 1903 and died February 8,1964 in Colorado. Frank R. born May 23, 1906 died January 4, 1971. Aloysius J. Born October 24, 1907, died March 29, 1982. Philomena M. born August 21, 1909. Victor W. born June 25, 1911. Fr. Alexander M. born May 27, 1914. Fr. Herbert H. born February 3, 1915 and died January 15, 1965. Fr. Leonard J. born May 25, 1918. Arnold C. born August 28, 1920. Benjamin J. born June 20, 1922, died December 24, 1973. Gerhard J. Born November 7, 1924.

(End of Hoefler family story from the St. Joseph’s church book.)

RESEARCH Notes: Found Find a Grave, and ancestry.com sites.

Bernard Hoefler Sr. born 1 Aug 1869 at New Vienna, Dubuque County Iowa died 9 Sep 1949 Granville, Sioux County, Iowa buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery. His father was Johan Gerhard Hoefler born 5 Apr 1826 Hanover Lower Saxony, Germany died 26 May 1875 Dubuque County Iowa and mother was Klara Schaefer 17 May 1831 Bonmte, Landkreis Osnabruck, Lower Saxony, Germany died 13 Dec 1910 Dubuque County Iowa. Bernard Hoefler Sr. married Elizabeth Goergen born 1881-1971.

Elizabeth Goergen was born 12 Mar 1881 Marcus, Cherokee County Iowa died 11 Jan 1971 Granville Iowa. Her father was Theodore Goergen born 25 Dec 1830 Wllersheim, Eifelkreis Bitburg Prum, Rheinland Pfalz, Germany died 24 Jun 1905 Granville, Sioux County, Iowa. Her mother was Elizabeth Larrosch born 30 Aug 1848 Steinbach am Donnersberg, Rheinland Pfalz Germany died 3 Nov 1932 Granville, Sioux county, Iowa. Bernard Hoefler and Elizabeth Goergen had the following children:

CHILDREN:
1. Joseph Theodore Hoefler born 15 Sep 1900 Granville Iowa died 1 Jul 1992 Fleming, Logan Co. CO. He married Elizabeth Blatt born 1901 died 12 Jul 1939 Logan County CO. Children Clara Mary Hoefler, 1932-1889 and a son William. Find A Grave posted an obituary of Joseph.

2. Bernard Jr. born October 15, 1901 and died October 28, 1901.

3. Anthon Frederich Hoefler, born August 11, 1903 Granville IA, and died February 8,1964 in Logan County Colorado. No family listed.

4. Frank Raphael Hoefler born May 23, 1906 Granville IA died January 4, 1971 Logan county CO. He married Mary Rosalia Brekel 1907-1975 Their children – Caroline Mary Moeller Daise 1934-2021, Sylvester Anthony Hoefler 1935-2020, Raymond J. Hoefler 1943-2014, Vince Hoefler 1950-2020. per Find A Grave.

5. Aloysius J. Hoefler was born October 24, 1907, died March 29, 1982 Cochise, Arizona. He married Elizabetha Antoneta Philomina Hoefler per FamilySearch.com

6. Philomena Hoefler born August 21, 1909 died Dec 10, 1993 See her obit on this web page.

7. Victor W. Hoefler born June 25, 1911 Caledonia Township O’Brien Co. IA He married Zita G. Glass 1937 in Denver CO. . died 7 Nov 1995 Wheat Ridge CO No family listed on Find A Grave.

8. Fr. Alexander M. Hoefler born May 27, 1914 O’Brien Co. IA, died 26 Jun 2002 Riverside Co. CA. See his obit on Find A Grave.

9. Fr. Herbert H. Hoefler born February 3, 1916 and died January 15, 1965.buried New Hope at Hemmepin Co. MN.

10. Fr. Leonard J.Hoefler born May 25, 1918 Granville IA died 5 Jan 1995 Lafayette LA Find a Grave has posted an obit.

11. Arnold C. Hoefler born August 28, 1920 died 31 May 2008 Harlan, Shelby Co. IA. He married Clara Brekel 1927-2012 Their children Robert A. Hoefler 1947-2013 and James B. Hoefler 1949-2008. See Arnold’s obit on this web page.

12. Bernard ‘Benjamin” Hoefler Benjamin J. born June 20, 1922, died December 24, 1973 Boulder CO. Wife Philomena Anna Nuoci 1921-2015 Children – Mary Theresa Mc Cabe 1951-1996 and Gerald Robert Hoefler 1956-1991. From Find a Grave.

13, Gerhard Joseph Hoefler born 7 Nov 1924 died 22 Sep 1993 Denver CO, buried Fort Logan Cemetery. No family listed.

OBITUARY of Bernard Hoefler 1869-1949

Source: Alton Democrat (9-15-1949) Born: August 1, 1869 Died: September 9, 1949
BERNARD HOEFLER, PROMINENT FARMER OF GRANVILLE, DIES Bernard Hoefler, well known resident of the Granville vicinity for 50 years, died at his home east of Granville on Friday evening, September 9, 1949 at 8:30 P.M. He had reached the age of 80 years, 1 month and 9 days.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning September 13, at 9:30 in St. Joseph’s Church with a solemn Requiem High Mass, read by the deceased three sons, Reverend Herbert Hoefler, celebrant, Reverend Leonard Hoefler , deacon, Father Alexander Hoefler sub-deacon and Reverend John Eagan, master of ceremonies, assisted by St. Joseph Choir.
Interment was made in St. Joseph Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dr. A.J. Miller, Anton Hunt, Theodore Ney, Frank Spieler, Joseph Blatt and Jerome Grady, all of Granville.
Bernard Hoefler was born August 1, 1869, son of the late Gerhard and Clara Schaeffer Hoefler at New Vienna, Iowa. He attended a country school near Vienna and spent all his life as a farmer. For the past 50 years, from 1899 to 1949, he resided on the farm near Granville. He served as director of the Farmers elevator, also as director of the Granville Telephone Association. From 1918 to 1930 Mr. Hoefler was guardian of the Fred Hunt estate and was a faithful member of the Catholic Church, all his life.
On June 20, 1899, he married Elizabeth Goergen. They were the parents of 12 sons and 1 daughter.
He is survived by his wife and the following children: Joseph Hoefler, Granville, Anton and Frank Hoefler, Fleming, Colorado; Aloysuis Hoefler, New Vienna, Iowa, Philomena Hoefler, Granville, Victor and Benjamin, Denver, Colorado, Father Alexander, S.V.D., Techny, Illinois, Father Herbert, C.S.S.R., Pine City, Minnesota, Father Leonard, S.V.D., Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Arnold and Gerhard of Granville and 17 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters, being the last surviving member of the family and one son, Bernard, who died in infancy.

OBITUARY of Elizabeth Mrs. Bernard Hoefler 1881-1971
Funeral services were held at St. Joseph Catholic church at 10:30 today, January 14, for Mrs. Bernard Hoefler, 89, of Granville, who died at the Orange City nursing home January 11 after a long illness. Services were conducted by the Revs. Alexander and Leonard Hoefler, sons, and burial was made in the church cemetery.
The former Elizabeth Goergen was born March 12, 1881, at Marcus. She was a lifelong resident of the Granville area and was married to Bernard Hoefler June 20, 1899. He preceded her in death in 1949.
Survivors include eight sons, Joseph of Fleming, Colo., Alysius of Olwein, Victor, Benjamin of Denver, Colo., Alexander and Gerhard of Los Angeles, Leonard of Vicksburg, Miss., Arnold of Granville; a daughter, Miss Philomena of Granville; 24 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Source: Sioux Center News, January 14, 1971

Note: If anyone has early family stories to share or a family picture contact our page coordinator.

This wedding picture of Bernard and Elizabeth Hoefler is from page 113 of the St. Joseph’s church book.

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