Francis E. Hofkes

Last modified: Thursday, March 15, 2007 2:15 PM CDT

Francis E. Hofkes

Francis E. Hofkes, 91, of Boyd passed away on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire.

Francis was born April 29, 1915 in Boyd, the son of Edmund and Eleanore (Kleiner) Hofkes. He grew up in Boyd attending St. Joseph’s Elementary school, graduating from Boyd High School in 1933 and St. Thomas University, St. Paul, class of 1937.

In 1942 he volunteered for the U.S. Navy, was commissioned as an ensign, studied at Harvard University and MIT, serving in Radar/Sonar development and installation. He was honorably discharged at the Philadelphia Naval Base as a Lieutenant (S.G). in July 1946.

While stationed in Philadelphia he met Eleanor Newell and they were united in marriage on April 27, 1946 at the St. Rose of Lima Church in Philadelphia. After his discharge from the service he and Eleanor moved back to Boyd where Francis worked in the family business, Hofkes’ Chevrolet, and later owned and operated Boyd Oil Co.

Francis was very devoted to his family, the Catholic Faith and the Boyd Community. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, American Legion and the Boyd Lions Club. He enjoyed swimming, music, Spanish, travel, mathematics, architectural design and genealogy.

Francis is survived by: his wife, Eleanor of Boyd; daughters, Marie (Joseph) Hauser and Angela (Paul) McKitrick both of Minneapolis: grandchildren, David, Antonia and Theresa Hauser, Kathleen, John and Claire McKitrick; step-grandchildren, Suzanne (Alan) D’Souza, Joe (Lisa) Hauser and children, and Rochelle Hauser; foster children, Richard Wilbur, Lawrence, David and Leonard Shoemaker; three sisters, Marion Thornton of Stanley, Murcille Hencley of Shoreview, Minn., and Ruth Zachau of Eau Claire; a brother, Eugene (Lois) Hofkes of Chippewa Falls; sister-in-laws, Ruth Falter of Palm Coast, Fla., Sister Catherine Newell and Sister Dorothea Newell, both S.S. J.’s of Philadelphia, Pa., and Sister Ann Newell, IHM, of Scranton, Pa.; brother-in-laws, James (Margaret) Newell of Bethel, Conn., Michael Newell of Westmont, N.J. and Father Joseph Newell, SJ, of Philadelphia, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Francis was preceded in death by: his parents; and four brothers, Charles, Bernard, Edmund Jr. and Jerome.

A Christian Burial Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 17, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Boyd, with Fr. Robert Nelson officiating. Inurnment will follow in the parish cemetery at a later date.

Friends and family may call from 5-8 p.m. Friday evening at the Plombon Funeral Chapel, Stanley, with a 7:30 p.m. Rosary being recited.

Plombon Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements.