Jeanette Hofer, 87
Jeanette Hofer, 87 of Bridgewater, S.D. passed away Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Diamond Care Center in Bridgewater. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the Neu Hutterthaler Church of rural Bridgewater. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church.
Jeanette Jane Hofer was born to Joseph P. And Sarah Hofer (Hofer) on Aug. 27, 1937, on a farm south of Bridgewater.
Jeanette’s spiritual birth was on July 12, 1949, when she knelt at her mother’s knee to accept Christ as Lord of her life. Upon confession of faith, she was baptized by Reverend Albert Ewert on October 5, 1952, and was received into the membership of Neu Hutterthaler Mennonite church in rural Bridgewater where she served as pianist, organist, Sunday School Teacher, special offerings treasurer, and active member of Willing Workers.
Jeanette’s elementary education was received in several rural schools and Bridgewater Public School. She graduated from Bridgewater high school in 1955. After attending Freeman Junior College for one year, she became an elementary school teacher and taught in several different country schools in the Bridgewater area. She continued her education at Dakota Wesleyan University, attending summer schools and night classes, and graduating with a degree in elementary education. She taught second grade in the Bridgewater school system from 1963 until 1984.
On June 16, 1957, Jeanette married Willard Hofer at Pioneer Hall in Freeman, S.D. The couple made their home on a farm near Spencer, S.D., until they purchased a farm north of Bridgewater in 1959. Their marriage was blessed with one son, Darlys Roy.
God granted her the joy of teaching school and molding lives of precious children for more than 25 years. After retiring from teaching, Jeanette became a true farmers wife, enjoying the companionship of working side-by-side with her husband. Jeanette’s world seemed to collapse in 1996 when cancer claimed the life of her husband Willard, but God provided strength in weakness.
A variety of interests made her life busy and full. One of these was her love of music. As a child, she was taught to sing harmony in their family trio, and later in a lady’s quartet, other trios and musical groups. She accompanied numerous performers and church groups on the piano and organ. Jeanette wrote the scripts for numerous Christmas plays and salad suppers.
After the passing of her father, Joe P, the caring heart of Jeanette welcomed her mother Sarah into her home.
Jeanette also loved to sew, crochet, quilt, cook, and garden. Her recipes and creations live on. She continued to manage and care for the home farm after Willard ‘s death from 1996 to 2022, when she moved into assisted living at Trail Ridge in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents, Joe P and Sarah Hofer, infant sister Carol Jean Hofer, and husband Willard Hofer. She is also preceded in death by her parents-in-law Paul K. and Margaret Hofer, brothers-in-laws Solomon (Rose) Hofer, Clarence (Joyce) Hofer, Dwane Hofer, Joe Danny Hofer, Paul Jr. Hofer, and Dennis Dierks.
She is survived by her son Darlys Hofer (Catherine), granddaughter Sarah Melin (Isaac), great granddaughter Evelyn Grace Melin, granddaughter Rebecca Hofer, brother Glendon Hofer (Jayne), niece Stacey Ahrenstorff (Todd), nephew Jerry Hofer (Kristi), niece Carrie Kindopp (Kelsey), along with the dearly loved children of her nieces and nephew: Dawson, Payton, and Carlie Jo Ahrenstorff, Jonah (Madi), Sam, and Hayden Hofer, and Kerrigan and Leighton Kindopp. Jeanette is also survived by sisters-in-law Selma (David) Mendel, Jenny Hofer, Bernice (David) Kiner, Caroline (John) Gallo, Katy Ann Dierks and Priscilla Hofer.
The family requests that memorials be directed towards the Union Gospel Mission or Neu Hutterthaler Church.
