Hoffs, LeRoy, 1922-1940

HOFFS, VANZYL

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/16/2022 at 20:55:44

From The Sioux County Capital, February 15, 1940 Orange City:

LEROY HOFFS.

Leroy Hoffs, 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hoffs, died early Saturday morning in an Orange City hospital. Death resulted from peritonitis which followed a ruptured appendix operation over a week ago. Leroy was born Feb. 22, 1922, and had lived around Hospers all his life. He graduated from the Hospers High school in 1939. Surviving are his father and mother and two sisters Eleanor and Joleen. Funeral services were held at the Reformed church on Tuesday, Rev. G. Doctor officiating.

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Alton Democrat, February 16, 1940:

Hospers Youth Passes Away

The Hospers community was saddened Saturday morning upon the sudden and untimely death of LeRoy John Hoffs, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hoffs, at an Orange City hospital where he had undergone an operation for a ruptured appendix nine days previously. The patient had apparently been on the road to recovery, but on Friday suffered a serious relapse from which he did not rally, passing away at four o’clock Saturday morning.

Deceased was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hoffs and was born on Feb. 22, 1922, on the farm where his parents still reside. He received his education at the Hospers public school, graduating from high school with the class of ’39 of which he was class valedictorian. He took an active part in all school activities, was a member of both the basketball and baseball teams, a member of the school band and was outstanding in declamatory work.

Surviving are the parents and two sisters, Eleanor and Jolene, both at home.

Private funeral services were held Monday at the home at one o’clock, with public funeral services being held at 1:30 P.M. at the First Reformed church where deceased had been a Sunday school member and also a member of the choir. Rev. G. Doctor was in charge of the services. Pallbearers were members of his Sunday school class, as follows: Chasper Vander Ploeg, Willis Helder, William Grotenhuis, Claude Boender, Wallace Zwagerman and James Niewenhuis. Burial took place at West Lawn cemetery.

Relatives present from a distance were G. Van Zyl, Holland, Mich.; Dr. Marinus Hoffs, Lake Odessa, Mich.; Rev. Harry Hoffs of Chicago; Frank Klein, Lake Odessa, Mich.; and Mr. and Mrs. J. Vander Steeg of Storm Lake.

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His death certificate adds data on his parents – Joe Hoffs, born in Alton, and Kate Van Zyl, born in Hospers – and on his death – in the De Bey Hospital, Orange City, where he had been a patient 8 days; died at 4:30 p.m. February 10, 1940, of peritonitis, due to appendical abscess, due to ruptured appendix, for which he was operated on February 2.