Obit: Hoffmann, Lavern H. (1916 – 2004)
Contact : Crystal Wendt
Email: Post4LincolnCoWi@aol.com

Surnames: Hoffmann, Damroshe, Breitzke, Helgens, Scheithauer, Nyberg, Mueller, Sanchez, Holmquist, Lind, Crager, Renn, Drews, Majewski, Reklau, Nisporic, Reimann, Christianson, Buckner, Kruse

---Source: Merrill Foto News (Merrill, Lincoln County, Wis.) Wednesday, 24 Nov. 2004; page 12

---Hoffmann, Lavern H. (18 Dec. 1916 – 17 Nov. 2004)

Lavern H. Hoffmann, 87, of Antigo, formerly of Spirit, died Wednesday, November 17, 2004, at Eastview Medical and Rehab Care, Antigo.

Lavern was born in Coloma on December 18, 1916, son of the Emil and Clara Damroshe Hoffmann and moved to Spirit in 1918. He married Erna Breitzke in 1937. They later divorced. In 1942 he married Marie Helgens of Iowa; they also divorced. On November 2, 1973, he married Vera Scheithauer in Tomahawk.

Lavern graduated from Rib Lake High School in 1934, and then attended Price County Normal School, earning a teaching degree in 1935. Lavern taught elementary school for two years before moving to Iowa and joining the military in 1942. During WWII he served in the Eighth Army Air Force in England until 1945. He later returned to Spirit where he operated a dairy farm. He served as road superintendent for the town of Spirit for 10 years until 1966, then went into highway construction until his retirement. He resided in Antigo since 1968. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, Antigo, Spirit American Legion Post 452, Operating Engineers Union and past board member of the town of Spirit. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, operating his grader, eating and cooking, and spending time with his family and dogs, as well as going for drives.

Survivors include his wife Vera, sons Dale (Katie), Merrill; and Glenn, Idaho Falls; Idaho; daughters Jean Ann Nyberg, Spirit; Patricia (Emmerich) Mueller, Oak Creek; Linda (Jerry) Sanchez, Dodge City; Kans.; Myrna (Andres) Holmquist and Luann (Darrell) Lind, both of Spirit; Nancy (Roger) Crager, Texas; and Rita (Scott) Renn, Tomahawk; step-daughters Yvonne Drews and Elaine (John) Majewski, both of Antigo; Shelia (Bob) Reklua, Three Lakes; Julane (Bill) Nisporic, Sheboygan; and Barbara Reinmann, Antigo; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Norman, sister Margaret Christianson, granddaughter Julie Buckner, son-in-law Stewart Nyberg and a step-granddaughter.

Funeral services were Saturday, November 20, at Peace Lutheran Church, Antigo. Rev. Scott Kruse officiated. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery, town of Spirit with full military honors by Spirit American Legion Post 452. The Dallmann-Kniewel Funeral Home, Medford and Rib Lake, served the family.