Francis William “Bill” Hofer, 89, of St. Paul, Kansas, formerly of Pittsburg, passed away at 3:40 p.m. Sunday, January 28, 2018 at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul, Kansas.
He was born February 19, 1928 at Walnut, Kansas, at the family farm, the son of Joseph Vincent Hofer, Sr. and Marguerite (Beachner) Hofer. He attended grade school in Neutral School and graduated in 1946 from St. Paul High School. He worked at home for one and a half years before joining the harvest for about one and a half years and met lifelong friends, Cletus Heffran and Mike Larkin. It was in Minot, North Dakota, that he received his army “greetings”. Mr. Hofer served in the United States Army during the Korean war, between September 1950 and September 1952.
After serving in the Army, he worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. He was then invited back to harvest by Mike Larkin, where he had his brother, Joe’s, combine and truck for a year. He began driving a truck when he came home from harvest and had 3-4 trucks going.
After serving in the Army, he worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. He was then invited back to harvest by Mike Larkin, where he had his brother, Joe’s, combine and truck for a year. He began driving a truck when he came home from harvest and had 3-4 trucks going.
On April 16,1955, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Jeanne Lowrance Gross. They enjoyed 41 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on May 2, 1996. In 1958, he drove less and began building the truck line, Hofer Trucking Inc. Membership was held in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Commodore Barry Council Knights of Columbus, Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post #64, and Pittsburg VFW. According to his cousin, Corky Beachner, Mr. Hofer facilitated the communication with the bank to make the loan for Prairie Mission possible after this had been turned down for two years. The family did not know this until recently.
Survivors include two daughters, Judith Jeanne Spurgeon and her husband, Tom of Pittsburg and Elizabeth Ann “Becky” Hofer and her wife, Freda of Overland Park, KS; a brother, Jim Hofer and his wife, Loretta of Walnut, KS; a sister, Mary Clarkin of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren, Rodney Watson and his wife, Tess, Mandy Merando and her husband, Jon, Wendy Macias and her husband, Mike, and Susan Spencer and her husband, Rob; thirteen great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren and 21 beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Carolyn Jeanne, and a second wife, a son, Gary Gross and two brothers, Joseph V. Hofer, Jr. and Lawrence “Ray” Hofer. The family appreciates the sensitive and wonderful care given to their dad by the Labette Medical Center ICU and Dr. Smith and the very caring staff at Prairie Mission Retirement Village.
The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 3) at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Robert McElwee and Fr. Clay Kimbro as concelebrants. Burial will be in the Highland Park Cemetery, where the Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post #64 will provide flag folding ceremonies. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to Harry Hynes Hospice, Prairie Mission Retirement Village, Parkinson’s research or the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C., of which his nephew, Fr. Andrew Hofer belongs. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Carolyn Jeanne, and a second wife, a son, Gary Gross and two brothers, Joseph V. Hofer, Jr. and Lawrence “Ray” Hofer. The family appreciates the sensitive and wonderful care given to their dad by the Labette Medical Center ICU and Dr. Smith and the very caring staff at Prairie Mission Retirement Village.
The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 3) at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Robert McElwee and Fr. Clay Kimbro as concelebrants. Burial will be in the Highland Park Cemetery, where the Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post #64 will provide flag folding ceremonies. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to Harry Hynes Hospice, Prairie Mission Retirement Village, Parkinson’s research or the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C., of which his nephew, Fr. Andrew Hofer belongs. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
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