Wendell L. Hoffman, 94

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Wendell L. Hoffman, 94, of Vandalia, formerly of Bingham, died on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at Fayette County Hospital, LTC, in Vandalia.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Vandalia. An additional visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 21, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church with Pastor Cliff Crockett and Terry Westerfield co-officiating. Burial will take place in Prairie cemetery in rural Ramsey. Miller Funeral Home in Vandalia is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hoffman was born March 2, 1925, in Vera, to Albert and Minnie Henrietta (Kresin) Hoffman. He married Thelma Arlene Nave on Jan. 5, 1946, in rural Ramsey, and she survives.

He graduated from Ramsey High School with the class of 1943, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served in the armed guard aboard three merchant vessels. He was awarded Europe-Africa, Middle East, Asiatic-Pacific and World War II victory ribbons.

Mr. Hoffman was Fayette County’s first Outstanding Farmer, ranking eighth place in the state contest in 1960. In 1969 and again in 1979, the Hoffman family were featured in International Harvester World magazine and also in Prairie Farmer magazine in 1991.

He was elected and served as director and chairman of the Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation Board for a number of years. Additionally, he was a secretary for council 10, which included three counties. After retiring from the board, his family was awarded the Conservation Farm Family of Fayette County in 1975.

A member of the First United Methodist Church of Vandalia, Mr. Hoffman served on the board for many years as a lay leader, chairman and more. He was a high school class Sunday School teacher for over 30 years, a position he enjoyed the most. 

He was elected to the Ramsey School District #204 Board, serving as secretary and chairman for six years. He was on the Fayette Service Co. board from 1981 to 1990, serving as chairman the last five years. He also served several years on the board of the Ramsey Saddle Club and was a member of the Fayette County Farm Bureau.

Mr. Hoffman was known by many as the “Quarter Man” and in recent years as the “Gold Dollar Man.” He loved the Lord, his family, his country and the American flag. His favorite past-time was riding horses and teaching others to ride, especially his grandchildren.

After 53 years of farming, he and his wife retired in 1999 and moved to Branson West, MO, where he spent his retirement as an usher, and the past ten years working for the Clay Cooper Country Express in Branson, MO.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Hoffman is survived by his daughter, Janice (Gary) Knodle of Fillmore; sons, Roger (Rita) Hoffman of East Peoria and Kent (Beth) Hoffman of Vandalia; grandchildren, Todd (Amy) Knodle, Mary (Julie) Knodle, Jennifer Hoffman, Megan (Bill) Goodman, Wesley (Jenny) Hoffman and Lynn (Brad) Portz; great-grandchildren, Katie (Austin) Wollerman, Lacey, Ethan, Cody and Ty Knodle, Owen and Eli Goodman and Kalli and Milli Portz; and sister, Evelyn Probst of Ramsey.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, May Della Probst.

Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church or Crawford-Hale Post #95, American Legion in Vandalia.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.millerfh.net.