Stephen E Hoffman

Stephen E. Hoffman who would have been 96 on the 26th died on June 11th, 2008 at Valleyview Health Care Center. Mr. Hoffman was born in St. Louis, MO, June 26, 1912, to Julia (Balint) Hoffman and Stephen Hoffman, Sr. A 1930 graduate of Ross High School, he then became a manager at A & P, learning that business from Walter Schneider. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy, serving more than three years aboard the destroyer, USS Walker, as a machinist first class petty officer throughout the South Pacific, Japan, North Africa and Caribbean. During the late 1940s Mr. Hoffman was employed by the National Carbon Company. In 1950 Stephen and Florence Widman were married at St. Josephs Catholic Church and that same year built and operated the Silver Top Tavern with Ambrose and Margaret Widman until 1955. Mr. Hoffman also sold real estate for OBrien Realty. For over 50 years Stephen operated Hoffmans Orchard on Siler Street with his mother Julia Hoffman until her death in 1981, then with his wife Florence and sister Ethel H. Zitte until 1982. Until recently, Mr. Hoffman continued to pursue his love of organic gardening at his home. Stephen, will not only be remembered for the orchard business where the finest red and yellow Delicious apples, others fruits, vegetables, sweet cider and honey from their hives were sold, but for his stories about his navy years around the world including traveling across the Golden Gate Bridge and sailing under it, of which he often said It was an adventure! Mr. Hoffman was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Rosary Society and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include nieces, Mary H. Valentine and Rosaline Curtis of Connecticut, nephew, Dr. Richard Zitte of Wisconsin, other great-nieces and nephews of Connecticut and the Fremont area. Mr. Hoffmans wife Florence and sister Ethel H. Zitte are deceased. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 15, 2008 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Herman-Kinn-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Fremont. A Wake service will be held on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. with Deacon Jim Hammer officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, June 16th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. David Bruning officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Fremont. Memorials for Masses or to St. Joseph Catholic Education Development Fund may be made in Stephens memory.