June 4, 2017 – Allenton, WI – Merle Andrew Hofmaier, age 74 years, of Allenton, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017 at home.
Merle was born on December 3, 1942 in Nebraska to Camillus and Clara (nee Leader) Hofmaier and later moved to Wisconsin in 1953.
Attended St. Peter and Paul Catholic Grade School in Nenno and graduated from Hartford High School, class of 1961. On May 2, 1964, he married Esther M. Breuer at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
He was a skilled welder, working at Gehl Co. followed by John Deere in Horicon, retiring in 2006. In his early years, he also worked for Schwartz Trucking.
He used his God-given talents to help so many other people. He leaves behind a life filled with family and friends that loved and respected him for his honesty and gentleness. He showed us what the true definition of being a good man is.
He never failed in teaching us what courage is when faced with a new challenge. He worked hard for everything he gained in life.
Being a devoted Catholic helped guide him down many paths. Some chosen, some not. He met so many wonderful people that helped shape the man he became. He knew something about everything, loved to read, play cards, watch baseball, was an avid Brewers fan, enjoyed his horses and feeding the birds and was always ready to help when called. He was also a member of the R.A.T.S. club. He was a man of few words at times, but when he spoke, it was with complete thought and sincerity.
Merle is survived by his wife Esther, children: Karen, David (Michele), Carol (Rick) Young, Debra (Randy) Eller, grandchildren: Erik, Sara, Amber, Jayden, Justin and Annika. He is further survived by his brother: Jerome (Alice) Hofmaier, sisters: Marvelee Broker, Donna Stoffel, Joanne (Edward) Mahacek, Charlene (Robert) Miotke, brother-in-law: Ralph (Karin) Breuer, sisters-in-law: Bernice (Theodore) Mueller, Dorothy (Herbert) Schmidt, Shirley DeGrave, Charlene Hofmaier, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Francis and Darrell, sister-in-law: Shirley Hofmaier, brothers-in-law: Ralph Stoffel and Edward DeGrave.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church (4886 Hwy 175, Hartford, WI 53027), with Father Richard J. Stoffel and Father Davies Edassery presiding. Interment will take place at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 8 at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church only on Wednesday, June 7 from 3:00 pm – 5:45 pm.
A Special Thank You to the Allenton Rescue Team, Fresenius Dialysis Center, and his many doctors who assisted him throughout the years of challenges he faced.