Bernard Joseph Hoffman

Bernard J. (Bernie) Hoffman, age 93, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2016 under the care of Garden Side Crossing at the North Central Health Care Center, Wausau.
Bernie was born on February 25, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of the late Joseph and Irene Hoffman.
He lived in Chicago until his teenage years when his family moved to the Schofield, Wisconsin area. He attended Wausau High School and while there, met the love of his life, Ruby Braatz. They were married on April 1st, 1944 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Schofield.
Bernie served in World War II in both the United States Army and as a pilot in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He received an honorable discharge in 1945. He and Ruby then settled in Schofield, where they raised their family.
Bernie spent most of his working life as a Rural Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service, based out of the Schofield Post Office. He retired from there in 1981.
He was a past member of both the Schofield Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Schofield Water Commission. He was also a member of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schofield.
He was active in various sports leagues. He managed Little League teams and played softball for many different fast pitch and slow pitch teams. Bernie also became a tennis fanatic and played that sport until he was 80.
He was a member of the Wausau Area Radio Controlled Model Airplane Club and spent a considerable amount of time in the summers flying his home made planes at the club’s landing strip at Sunnyvale Park.
Bernie was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandpa. He helped his entire family over the years with various projects – both big and small.
He enjoyed family get togethers. He and Ruby could also be seen many times “stepping out” to a local dance, or enjoying a fish fry with family and friends. He enjoyed music, especially big band music and polkas.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ruby, his parents, and many other in-laws, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is survived by his three children, Russell (Marie) Hoffman, Rothschild; Pam (Greg) Smith, Mosinee; and Polly (Mike) Behrens, Weston. His grandchildren include Melanie (Travis) Carroll, Fall River, WI; Crystal Smith, Rothschild; Amanda (Tyler) Killinger, Green Bay; Paul Smith, Madison; Stacey (Jeremy) Larsen, Weston; and Elizabeth Ball, Weston. He is also Great Grandpa to Carson Killinger and Jack Larsen.
There will be a private funeral service for the family. Gifts or memorials may be directed to St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schofield, Wisconsin.
Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee, is helping with the arrangements.
Our family would like to thank the entire staff of Garden Side Crossing at North Central Health Care Center not only for your wonderful care, understanding, and patience shown to our dad, but also the courteous way in which you always treated our family. Thanks also to Pastor Davidson for your visits and comforting messages that you shared with Dad.