Howard Lee Hoffmann, 79, of Nicollet died peacefully at home on July 30, 2015.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Tuesday, August 4, at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Lafayette with Monsignor John A. Richter celebrating their Mass. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be 4 – 8 PM Monday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home NORTH CHAPEL in New Ulm and will continue for one hour prior to the time of Mass at church on Tuesday.

Howard is survived by his wife, Lois Hoffmann of Nicollet; daughters, Helen (Keith) Wenner of St. Peter, Jean (Tim) Schneider of Lafayette, Pam (Ron) Grommersch of Nicollet and Lori Hoffmann of Sleepy Eye; a son, Larry (Arlynne) Hoffmann of Nicollet; 18 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; sisters, Judie (Robert) Tellander, Suzanne Caldwell and Penny (Robert) Heiti, all of Hudson, Wisconsin; a brother, Neal (Carol) Hoffmann of New Ulm; and by a sister-in-law, Ona Hoffmann of New Ulm.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter; and by his brother Tom Hoffmann.

Howard Lee Hoffmann was born, the oldest of six children, on August 8, 1935 in Brighton Township, Nicollet County to Lee and Gertrude (Meurer) Hoffmann. He attended country school in Bernadotte Township and was a graduate of New Ulm High School. After high school Howard farmed with his dad on the family farm in Bernadotte Township. He was united in marriage on October 11, 1955 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Mankato to his devoted wife of 59 years, Lois Helen Holzapfel. After marriage they continued farming in Bernadotte Township until their retirement.

At a young age Howard enjoyed learning to fly and obtained his airman's pilot license 1954. However, his real passion was farming and his family. Howard was a Dekalb and Vigertone feed dealer and also worked many years with Green Giant hauling sweet corn and peas. He loved living on the farm and after his retirement he continued to help his son and grandsons with the farming operation. In his spare time Howard enjoyed collecting tractors, auctions, playing cards, hunting, fishing, driving a school bus, having coffee at the C-Store and family gatherings.

He was a member of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Lafayette, 36 year member of the Lafayette Area Lions Club, past director on the Klossner Coop Board, Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters.