Mary Jane V. Hoffmann, age 69 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 7, 2023. Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with Christian Mothers Rosary at 3:30 pm and Parish Prayers at 3:45 pm. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church-North Entrance in Sleepy Eye. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 11:00 am and will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/stmarysleepyeye. The clergy will be Fr. Mark Steffl. 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.
Mary Jane Veronica Hoffmann, the daughter of Arthur and Marion (Hillesheim) Sellner, was born on January 26, 1954, at the hospital in Sleepy Eye. She had four sisters and one brother. Mary Jane grew up on a dairy farm ten miles south of Sleepy Eye. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1972 and attended Saint Cloud State College for one year as she was planning on becoming a nurse. She met the love of her life, Martin “Marty” Hoffmann, and on August 20, 1975, they were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They enjoyed 48 years of life together.
Farm life perfectly fit Mary Jane’s personality and work ethic. She and Marty raised their six sons on the farm where she was an integral part of all that came with farming and milking cows. She also really enjoyed gardening, canning vegetables and baking delicious desserts to share. Her faith was very important to Mary Jane, and she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she volunteered her time in various ways. Following in her mom and grandma’s footsteps, she found peace and purpose in praying the rosary faithfully. She loved being able see the church steeple from their farm.
Mary Jane was passionate about helping others. She was selfless, easy to talk with, and caring to all around her. Family was most important to her, and she loved phone calls and attending her children and grandchildren’s activities. She was an absolutely wonderful grandma to her twelve grandchildren who always brought a smile to her face. Being a wife, mom, and grandma were the greatest blessings of Mary Jane’s life. Her kindness, strength, and beautiful smile will be greatly missed and cherished forever.
Mary Jane leaves behind her husband, Martin Hoffmann of Sleepy Eye; six sons, Luke (Kristi) Hoffmann of Salt Lake City, UT, Nicholas (Alissa) Hoffmann of Duluth, MN, Samuel (Ann) Hoffmann of New Ulm, Joseph (Karri) Hoffmann of Sleepy Eye, John (Amy) Hoffmann of Arden Hills, MN, and Martin Jr. (Lacey) Hoffmann of Morris, MN; twelve grandchildren; siblings, Theresa Thomas of Chanhassen, MN, Ann Marie (Craig) Gifford of Balaton, MN, David (Madonna) Sellner of Sleepy Eye, and Linda Schroepfer of Sleepy Eye; brother in-law, Larry (Debra) Mages of Lafayette, MN nieces and nephews; and other loving relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Marion Sellner; sister, Maggie Mages; and brothers-in-law, George Thomas and Paul Schroepfer.