Frederick “Fritz” Hoffmann, 90, of Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, July 4, 2024, at home on the farm. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 10, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with the Knights of Columbus Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and Parish Prayers at 3:45 p.m. prior to the visitation. Visitation will continue on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. before the funeral at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye on July 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. and will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/stmarysleepyeye. The clergy will be Fr. Craig Timmerman. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
He taught his children the importance of faith and a strong work ethic. He was a farmer and was able to fix anything. His creativity was seen in objects he fixed, welded together, or saved for useful purposes. Coming from a large family, he saved and did not waste anything. He felt many things could be refurbished and saw value in simple objects most people throw away. He played football and baseball in high school and was inducted into the St. Mary’s Hall of Fame. He participated on the Stark Amateur baseball team and played softball with Berdan Wells and Rexall Drug. Playing Sheephead was an enjoyment for him. The farm was located on the Golden Gate settlement. He had a passion for the history of Golden Gate and was instrumental in getting the historical site.
Survivors include his wife, Bernadette, of Sleepy Eye and children, Barb (Jeff) Miller, Mary (Greg) Gangelhoff, Steve (Nancy) Hoffmann, and David (Linda) Hoffmann. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Amy (Lee) Simon, Mark (Katie) Miller, Brett (Desirae) Miller, Brian (Bethany) Gangelhoff, Matthew (Laura) Gangelhoff, Maria (Matt) Halverson, Heidi (Caleb) Greene, Jon (Mary) Hoffmann, Julia, Hannah, and Andrew Hoffmann; twenty great-grandchildren; siblings, Sr. Theresa Hoffmann, Joan Hoffmann, Catherine (Jim) Jarmer, Marcy Bode, and Marty Hoffmann; sister-in-law, Mary Hoffmann; brothers-in-law, Willard (JoAnn) Bastian and Jerome (Myra) Bastian; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Bastian. He was preceded in death by an infant son; parents, Sylvester and Marcella Hoffmann; siblings, Sr. Gloria, Victor, Sr. Gertrude, Tom, Margaret, and Ann; father and mother-in-law, Louis and Nora Bastian; sisters-in-law, Mary Jane and Elaine Hoffmann; brothers-in-law, Frank Bode and Bernard Bastian; and niece, Maria Lux.
Fred was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Golden Gate Historical Board. Fred was loyal to his parish and alma mater. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s Catholic School and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye.