Surnames: Hofmann, Everhard, Decker, Earl, Etten, Lesman, Ritter

----Sources: Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Sheboygan County, Wis.) 24 July 2004

Hofmann, Elmer C. (14 May 1912 - 22 July 2004)

DORCHESTER -Elmer C. Hofmann, 92, Dorchester, died Thursday, July 22, 2004, at his residence in the town of Mayville.

Funeral services for Elmer will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 26, at Peace United Church of Christ in Dorchester. The Rev. Robert Everhard will officiate.

Burial will be in Dorchester Memorial North Cemetery, with full military rites by the Dorchester American Legion Leach-Paulson Post 517. Pallbearers will be Jim Decker, Ron Decker, Gary Decker, Chuck Decker, Dave Earl and Steve Etten.

Visitation with family and friends will be from 9 a.m. until service time Monday at the church.

Maurina Funeral Home of Dorchester assisted the family with the arrangements.

Elmer Hofmann was born May 14, 1912, in Dorchester, the son of Maritz and Bertha (Lesman) Hofmann. He received his education at the Hilltop School in the town of Mayville and the Dorchester and Medford high schools. He worked for the pea canning factory and the Dorchester Co-op and did farm work on the home place. He also worked in the cornfields of Iowa.

Elmer served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, entering on March 11, 1940. He trained for one year in the coast artillery at Fort Sill, Okla., with 155mm heavy weapons. After Pearl Harbor, he was sent to the North Pacific theatre of operations in the Aleutian Islands. After 26 months, the Island of Adak was secured. Elmer was then transferred to the field artillery and as a member of the European, African, Middle Eastern theatre of operations in Italy, where he operated a 240mm long-range weapon. He trained in Naples, Italy, for the invasion of Japan.

Elmer was awarded the North Pacific Defense Medal, the European Defense Medal, the American Defense Medal, three bronze battle stars, two clusters, good conduct medal, five gold overseas bars and two hash service stripes. Elmer was given an honorable discharge on Oct. 4, 1945.

Elmer farmed in the town of Mayville and enjoyed a long, fulfilling life and met the challenges of his last months with grace, courage and a sense of humor.

He is survived by many good friends and neighbors, many nieces and nephews, and special niece, Elileen Ritter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Martha and Elsie; and five brothers, Herman, Bill, Paul, John and Fred.