Neva Germaine Hoffman

Memorial service for Neva Hoffman, age 80, of Milaca, will be held Saturday, April 27, 2019 at 12:30 PM at Milaca Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Joyce Slostad officiating.  Visitation will be held from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the church on Saturday.  Interment will take place at Borgholm Cemetery near Bock.  

In Rushville, NE on the 10^thday of June, 1938 a beautiful and tenacious baby girl blessed the lives of a small town, big hearted family. Frank and Nellie Johnson along with Marvin (Red), Donna and Roger welcomed Neva Germaine into their lives. Neva grew up as a middle child, loving her carefree childhood days of play with her two best friends--her older brother Roger and younger brother Terry. They were likely part of what shaped her into such a balanced person able to fix the plumbing, rig the lawnmower and pound nails as well as cook, sew and nurture.  Even as a child, Neva enjoyed work and being productive.  She loved to help others as a little girl, hurrying to finish her own chores so she could help her siblings with theirs.  As she grew up, her younger sisters, Kay and Dorothy, were her first practice with caring for babies the way she did all the rest of her years.  At age 10, she took her first overnight babysitting job.  She was often hired by neighbors and friends to do ironing, mending and helping them out however they needed.  No doubt her nurturing, sewing, cooking and baking skills were learned from her Mom during the time they spent together.  Her Dad provided the lessons in humor and frequent pranks.

On October 14^th, 1954 she married her blue-eyed sweetheart, James G. Hoffman in Stuart, NE. It was a Thursday.   She was sixteen, in love, determined and wasn’t ashamed to admit she quit school to be a wife.  Her diploma was surpassed in no time with an education you cannot get in the four walls of a classroom and she remained teachable and humble all of her 80 trips around the sun. Together the two of them locked arms and walked side by side through the years.  Starting out in their hometown of Stuart, NE as a young couple, they worked for local ranchers.  For the next several years, Jim worked long days as a ranch foreman and Neva stayed busy cooking for the ranch hands and maintaining the bunk houses as well as sewing and being a full time Mom.  She spoke often of the strong women in her life that mentored her as a young woman. Her own Mom, her Mother-In-Law and her Grandmas.  She enjoyed hosting card parties, showers, holidays and any gathering of family and friends.

In 1967, the couple ventured out to the untamed woods of Hayland Township MN.  Together they cleared land, built buildings and a dairy herd, but most of all they created their own sanctuary to raise their family and welcome their friends.  Love grew there, bigger than she knew it would when she said “yes” to leaving her family and home in NE. She worked at Milaca Mills for 10 years doing one of her favorite things, sewing.  Her speed sometimes raised the quotas set for everyone else at the factory. This is where she met two of her best friends.

She taught herself how to reupholster furniture and she owned both a reupholstery business and a bridal gown design and alterations service.  Her skill and exceptional attention to detail was apparent in all she did from antique chairs to boat seats and bridal gowns to headpieces.  Of course, she also ended up with patching jeans and sewing projects her kids and grandkids came to her with.  Love (and sometimes a little cursing) went into every patch.  She wasn’t afraid of building or creating the things she imagined.  She was a rescuer of things that still had purpose in them. 

Neva took pride in her grandkids and the hand she had in raising them.  They were always welcome in her home and her home was their home. Her wisdom, advice and support was something they often leaned on.  She spent the rest of her days on her farm, wanting to never stop contributing.  She could direct the preparation of holiday dinners from across the dining room. Her ideas, direction and love never stopped flowing.   She always kept her sense of humor, courage, generosity and grace.

On April 15^th, 2019 just before sunrise she left this world.  There is no way to describe a loss like her.  It just simply hurts.  But, we will carry on and take care of each other just as she wanted and expected. 

Survived by her children, Carolyn Stark (Greg Mattson) Duluth MN, Dorothy Alseth (Dana) Minneapolis MN, Avis Nickolay (John) Isle MN, Todd Hoffman (Lori) Milaca MN, Becky Hoffman Milaca MN, Kent Hoffman (Jennae) Milaca MN;  grandchildren, Marcia, Larry, Chase, Weston, Colton, Bradly, Katie, Melissa, Mark, Danial, Hannah, Michael, Raymond, Mason, Kenneth, Dennis, Carla, Austin, Izzabella and Charles,  great-grandchildren, Harrison, Mazie, Tyler, Syxten, Ryland, Easton, Paige, Chloe, Lainey, Hattie, Olyvia, Sawyer, Cody, Madison, Kyleigh, Adrianna, Margaret, Abbigail, Lucas, MaKinley, Kailey and Kennedy;  great-great-grandchildren, Hudson and Hank;  sisters, Donna, Kay and Dorothy;  sisters-in-law, Evelyn, Carol, Darlene and Judy;  brothers-in-law, Robert, Daniel, Mort and Arnie.

She was preceded in death byher husband, James;  grandson, Jason;  parents, Frank and Nellie;  her in-laws, James and Margaret;  brothers, Marvin, Roger and Terry;  brothers-in-law, Norman, Joe and Bill;  sisters-in-law, Mary and Wilma and many loved and treasured family and friends.