Omer James Hoffman

Funeral Services for Omer J. Hoffman, age 97, of Clearwater, NE, were 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 1, 2018, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Clearwater, NE with Father John Norman and Father James Kramper, Officiating. Music was provided by Carol Thiele and St. Theresa’s Choir. Burial was at St. Theresa’s Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were Mara Troup, Nicholas Hoffman, Patrick Hoffman, Mendie Welu, Alexandra Vogt, and Dimitry Troup. Honorary Pallbearers were Bryce Barr, Shane Krebs, Marvin Domina, John Knievel, Steve Brune, Tom Hruza, John Mlnarik, and Frank Morrison. Visitation was 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2018 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and Wake at 7:00 p.m. Omer passed away Monday, November 26, 2018 at his home. Snider Memorial Funeral Home is handling arrangements.



Memorials may be directed to Clearwater Fire and Rescue and Antelope Memorial Hospital.



Omer James Hoffman was born to Victor and Mayme (Kandyba) Hoffman at Neligh, Nebraska on August 2, 1921. He attended country school and graduated from Neligh High School with the Class of 1939. On June 20, 1946 he married his life partner Joan (Albright) Hoffman in Colorado. To this union a daughter, Mary Hollis (Holly) and son, Gregory were born. He spent the next 80 years nurturing, stewarding, and loving the land known as Lazy Horseshoe Ranch, in the Elkhorn Valley of Antelope County Nebraska. From nearly a fenceless desert, Omer transformed the land into a productive and beautiful grassland. Fiercely independent, he weathered multiple storms, pulled many a calf and calmed dozens of would-be broncs.
Along with managing a cow-calf herd, he was one of the irrigation pioneers of Northeast Nebraska, selling Valley Irrigation systems for Mid Nebraska Irrigation for twenty years. He was a member of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Board of Directors at NNTC and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. He enjoyed family, soil and water preservation, fishing, hunting and politics.
Survived by his wife, Joan. Daughter, Mary Hollis (Holly) of Clearwater, NE and son Gregory and Mary Jo Hoffman of Sioux City, IA. Six grandchildren, Dimitry and Justine Troup; Alexandra and Carsten Vogt all of Germany; Mendie Jo and Jordon Welu of Boston, MA; Patrick and Cathy Garst-Hoffman of Bozeman, MT; Nicholas and Brittany Hoffman of Ord, NE; Mara Troup of Chicago, IL; and six great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents. Brothers, Joseph and Nora Hoffman, Edward and Evelyn Hoffman, Robert and Cynthia Hoffman, Fredrick and Helen Hoffman, Raymond and Anne Hoffman, and Leonard and Marie Hoffman.