Hoffman, Bernard Vincent

Other Events:

• Other Info or Events: 30 Apr 1923; son of William Hoffman and Albertha Bakker
• Obituary: Aft 28 Feb 2011

Notes:

Obituary:
Bernard Vincent Hoffman, son of William and Albertha (Bakker) Hoffman, was born April 30, 1923, in Tea, SD. Bernard grew up in the Tea area where he attended country school. In 1940 he began working for the John Morrell Company. On February 24, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army. During his service he was taken as a Prisoner of War on Christmas of 1944 and he received the Purple Heart. He was released from captivity on April 5, 1945 after the war ended. Bernard was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945.
Bernard returned to Sioux Falls where he went back to work for John Morrell. In 1946 he quit John Morrell and began farming.
On November 10, 1948, he married Margaret Craig in Sioux Falls, SD. Bernard quit farming in 1952 and worked construction until 1955 when he returned to Morrell's. He worked for Morrell's for 37 years before retiring.
Bernard was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Tea and Moose Lodge 503 in Sioux Falls. He was a life member of Tea American Legion Post 266, Sioux Falls VFW Post 628, 40/8, Ex-POW Siouxland Chapter 1 and the Disabled American Veterans. Bernard was one of the original founders of the Tea Legion Post. The dedication he had for the post was evident by the hard work and endless hours of time through the years he gave it. He spent every day there for many years. Bernard cleaned, fixed, managed, organized, tended bar and befriended all who came through the doors. He was "GRAMPS" to all who loved and respected him.
He enjoyed dancing, hunting, fishing, playing cards with friends and family and in his younger years played softball for 15 years. Above all he loved his family. He was a loving father, grandfather and brother who will be greatly missed by all those who shared his life.
Grateful for having shared his life are his daughter, Shirley (Delmer) Wetering, Tea, SD; sisters, Edna Buus and Bernice Albers Lovrien, both of Sioux Falls; 3 grandchildren, Susan Wiebesiek, Tea, SD, Bernard (Julie) Wetering, Parker, SD, and Bret (Nancy) Wetering; 13 great-grandchildren, Josh (Jenilee), Adam and Tom (special friend, Christine Howard) Wiebesiek, Abbey (Josh) Vanderwerf, Drew and Andrea Wetering, Holly (Matt) Hurney, and Tyler, Paige and Jordan Wetering, Derek Jensen, Casey Jensen and Brady Krump; and 5 great-great-grandchildren, MacKenzie, Michael and Mikhail Hurney, Allegra Vanderwerf, and Emmitt Odland.
Bernard was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; parents, William and Albertha Hoffman; sisters, Dorothy Jacobson and Laura Renback; 3 brothers, Harvey, Harry and Ernest Hoffman; and grandson-in-law, Darwin Wiebesiek.

Bernard married Craig, Margaret Ruth 10 Nov 1948, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, South Dakota, USA. Margaret (daughter of Craig, Van Tenbroeck and Freese, Ruth) was born 11 Apr 1919, , Carter County, Montana, USA; died 28 May 2010, Harrisburg, Lincoln, South Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet]