Smasher_Sloan
Active Member
He was part of a thousand jokes over the years:
<i>Earl J. Hofert, Jr., 86, a gentle, modest man with a pride for detail,
a delightful sense of humor and a special fondness for his nieces and
nephews and their families, died in Indianapolis on April 14, 2009 at
St. Vincent Hospice.
The son of Earl Jacob Hofert, Sr., and Lena Marie Strietelmeier was
born Aug. 17, 1922 at the family's country home in Linton, Indiana. He
attended Linton High School and studied engineering for a year at
Purdue University before joining the Army.
After World War II, he returned to Purdue to graduate with an
engineering degree in 1949. He remained active in the Purdue alumni
group, attending meetings in Indiana and Florida during his retirement
years.
After graduation from Purdue, he took a job with Indiana Power and
Light in Indianapolis, and then worked for Link Belt Bearing Division,
retiring from Link Belt after a long career there. He spent many
winters in Bradenton, Florida, before moving back again home to
Indiana to live fulltime in Brownsburg.
Mr. Hofert was an avid Indiana history buff, volunteering regularly at
the Indiana State Museum, starting at the old location on Alabama
Street in Indianapolis and proudly showing visitors around the
museum's current home in White River State Park, pointing out the old
toys and other items of interest.
Throughout his life he enjoyed wooden toys and puzzles and passed
along that love to his great-nieces and -nephews, delighting in
sharing items he bought them from the state museum, the Indiana State
Fair and Cracker Barrels he visited on his travels.
He was a member of the Scottish Rite and St. Peter's United Church of
Christ in Carmel.
Mr. Hofert is survived by his beloved family: His two sisters, Dorothy
Letterman Mengering (Hans) of Carmel and Hazel Baughman of Kokomo;
three nephews: David Letterman (Regina), Carl Baughman and Alan
Baughman (Sue); three nieces, Janice Letterman Millholland, Carol
Baughman Sulanke (Thom) and Gretchen Letterman (Bill Shelton); five
great nephews: Bill Millholland, John Baughman, Daniel Baughman, Liam
Letterman Shelton and Harry Letterman; three great nieces, Bryn
Millholland Mooth, Sara Baughman Colvard and Annagrace Letterman
Shelton; great-great niece, Maria Rose Colvard; and step-grandson,
Brian Bradshaw. He is also survived by his dear friend Marge Ashby and
special caregivers Emily and Brad Rockwood and Angie and Rob
Hovermale.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday (April 17) at Flanner
and Buchanan Mortuary, 325 E. Carmel Drive, Carmel.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Zion Evangelical
United Church of Christ, 416 E. North St., Indianapolis.
Graveside services will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Linton.</i>
<i>Earl J. Hofert, Jr., 86, a gentle, modest man with a pride for detail,
a delightful sense of humor and a special fondness for his nieces and
nephews and their families, died in Indianapolis on April 14, 2009 at
St. Vincent Hospice.
The son of Earl Jacob Hofert, Sr., and Lena Marie Strietelmeier was
born Aug. 17, 1922 at the family's country home in Linton, Indiana. He
attended Linton High School and studied engineering for a year at
Purdue University before joining the Army.
After World War II, he returned to Purdue to graduate with an
engineering degree in 1949. He remained active in the Purdue alumni
group, attending meetings in Indiana and Florida during his retirement
years.
After graduation from Purdue, he took a job with Indiana Power and
Light in Indianapolis, and then worked for Link Belt Bearing Division,
retiring from Link Belt after a long career there. He spent many
winters in Bradenton, Florida, before moving back again home to
Indiana to live fulltime in Brownsburg.
Mr. Hofert was an avid Indiana history buff, volunteering regularly at
the Indiana State Museum, starting at the old location on Alabama
Street in Indianapolis and proudly showing visitors around the
museum's current home in White River State Park, pointing out the old
toys and other items of interest.
Throughout his life he enjoyed wooden toys and puzzles and passed
along that love to his great-nieces and -nephews, delighting in
sharing items he bought them from the state museum, the Indiana State
Fair and Cracker Barrels he visited on his travels.
He was a member of the Scottish Rite and St. Peter's United Church of
Christ in Carmel.
Mr. Hofert is survived by his beloved family: His two sisters, Dorothy
Letterman Mengering (Hans) of Carmel and Hazel Baughman of Kokomo;
three nephews: David Letterman (Regina), Carl Baughman and Alan
Baughman (Sue); three nieces, Janice Letterman Millholland, Carol
Baughman Sulanke (Thom) and Gretchen Letterman (Bill Shelton); five
great nephews: Bill Millholland, John Baughman, Daniel Baughman, Liam
Letterman Shelton and Harry Letterman; three great nieces, Bryn
Millholland Mooth, Sara Baughman Colvard and Annagrace Letterman
Shelton; great-great niece, Maria Rose Colvard; and step-grandson,
Brian Bradshaw. He is also survived by his dear friend Marge Ashby and
special caregivers Emily and Brad Rockwood and Angie and Rob
Hovermale.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday (April 17) at Flanner
and Buchanan Mortuary, 325 E. Carmel Drive, Carmel.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Zion Evangelical
United Church of Christ, 416 E. North St., Indianapolis.
Graveside services will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Linton.</i>
