Arnold Lee Hoffman was born in Kilgore, Nebraska on September 7, 1929 to Walter and Eva (Marshall) Hoffman. He passed away peacefully, to be with his savior, Jesus on January 5, 2021 at his home in Valentine, Nebraska, surrounded by several children and his wife of 65 years.
When he was a child, Arnie’s family moved often, living on rented farm places around or in Kilgore and Crookston, Nebraska. For two years, the family lived in a sod house near Rosebud, South Dakota. One winter in the late 1940s, Arnie and a cousin camped on the creek east of Crookston and ran a trap line. In the spring of 1948, Arnie moved to Valentine and began working for Watt’s Furniture Store and Funeral Home. He was drafted in 1951. His two years as a soldier during the Korean War were spent state-side in Georgia.
In 1955, Arnold married Jeanine Aeschliman. They lived in a one-bedroom house in Valentine until their sixth child was two years old. The growing Hoffman family then moved next door into a two-story house which Arnie completely remodeled, adding indoor plumbing and digging a full basement under the occupied home. Arnie and Jeanie were blessed with ten children. He continued to work for Watt’s until 1981. He then started Hoffman Monuments and sold memorials for many years. Arnie was an avid hunter and fisherman in his beloved Sandhills.
Arnie was baptized and confirmed in 1955. He, along with Jeanie, was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Church and held various church offices for many, many years. Attending services with his family became a lifelong habit. He had a strong faith in his Savior Jesus.
Arnie was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Charlene, his parents Walter and Eva, sisters Garnet Smith, Mary Lou Curtis, Alice Weihe, Martha Kelly, and a brother Clarence. He was also preceded in death by his older half-brothers and sisters: Cecil, Levern, Adelia Deterville, Elaine Sanford, Dwaine, Dorothy Nelsen, and four who died in childhood.
He will be dearly missed by his wife Jeanie, nine children: Ron (Connie), Rhonda (Mike) Kautz, Carlene (Marvin) Bodlak, Sheila (Mike) Young, Lorelei (Paul) Windsor, Kerry, Dulcie (Tony) Pinkelman, Kristi (Lee) Folkers, and Aaron (Michelle), 25 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Janis Davis and Joan Knuth, a brother Willy, and many nieces and nephews.
A private family memorial service will be held. Public Graveside service will be held at a later date. No visitation will be held.