George Hoffman Family

George J. Hoffman was born May 7, 1917 in Ridgeville Twp., Henry County, Route 2, Archbold, Ohio. He is the son of George A. and Clara (Schroeder). Hoffman. He graduated from Ridgeville High School, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio in 1935. He continued helping his father with farming. On May 11, 1941 he married Mathilda L. Cordes, who was born August 3, 1920 to Fred A. and Emilie (Hurst) Cordes. Mathilda also graduated from Ridgeville High School in 1938. George served in the U. S. Army. After his discharge, they moved to Defiance and he worked in Defiance at the Zeller's Corp. From there they moved on a farm in Ridgeville Twp. on County Road U, where they still live today. The Hoffman's have four children; Ronald Lee born April 30, 1942, Patricia Jean born November 10, 1944, Diane Kay born on February 9, 1946 and Nancy Lou born on September 18, 1947. All four children were born at Heller Memorial Hospital, Napoleon, Ohio. Ronald, Patricia, and Diane were baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio, by Rev. Martin Zschocke. January 1, 1947 the Hoffmans transferred their church membership to St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. Nancy was baptized in St. Peter Lutheran Church by Rev. Henry Ide. The children attended the Ridgeville Local School and all four graduated from Ridgeville High School.

After graduation from Ridgeville High School in 1960, Ron attended Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. On August 26, 1961, Ron married Marcella Arps of Okolona, Ohio, daughter of Albert and Laurena (Plassman) Arps. They were married in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Okolona, Ohio, by the Rev. C. A. Steinert. They have three sons: Dean Allen, born July 9, 1963; David James, born October 7, 1964; and Daniel Lee, born September 10, 1969. Dean and David were baptized in St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Danny was baptized in St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance, Ohio. Ron has moved often, working in Fort Wayne, Ind., Muskegon, Michigan, and at G. M. in Definace, Ohio. They are presently living in McMinnville, Tennessee. Ron is Foundry Manager for Powermatic Houdaille Inc., McMinnville, Tenn.

Patricia graduated in 1962 and worked several years as a secretary at LaChoy Foods in Archbold, Ohio. On May 2, 1964 she married a classmate, Larry Mahnke. He is the son of Melvin and Adela (Kruse) Mahnke. They were married in St. John Lutheran Church, Freedom Twp., by Pastor George Maassel. Their first home was a trailer house on the Melvin Mahnke farm located 11/2 miles south of the St. John Church. Larry is a dairy farmer. They moved around to different placed in the area after they sold the house trailer. In 1974, they purchased the house, buildings, and cows from Larry's parents. Being able to live next to his work is much better for Larry, and Pat and the children help with many of the chores, making it a family project. They have two children, Julie Lynn born February 20, 1965 and Robert Larry born September 2, 1966. Both children were baptized in St. John Lutheran Church. The children attend St. John Lutheran School. Pat also works part-time in the office of Meineke Sales and Service, Napoleon, Ohio.

Diane graduated in 1964 and began attending Bowling Green State University in September 1964, majoring in mathematics. On August 26, 1967, she married Richard W. Weires, Jr. of Archbold, Ohio. Rick is the son of Richard and Rachel (Lambert) Weires, Sr. They were married at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Archbold. Diane received her B.S. Degree in Education in January 1968 from Bowling Green State University, while her husband completed his M. A. Degree in biology at B.G.S.U. in June of 1968. The couple then moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Rick began his study of entomology at the University of Minnesota. Their first son, Rhett David, was born on November 21, 1968, at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis, Minnesota. On January 3, 1973, their second son, Nathan Hoffman, was born at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. Both children were baptized at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, St. Paul, Minnesota. Rick received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in December, 1972. Soon after the family moved to New York, where Rick became an assistant professor for Cornell University conducting research on the control of fruit insects at the Hudson Valley Laboratory in Highland, New York. Diane, meanwhile, had accumulated teaching experiences at McTigue Junior HIgh School, Toledo, Ohio, Roseville Local Schools, St. Paul, Minnesota, and New Paltz High School, New Paltz, New York. They presently live at 33 Meadow Road, New Paltz, New York.

After graduation in 1965 Nancy was employed in the office at Campbell Soup Co., Napoleon, Ohio. On September 25, 1965 Nancy married James A. Hogrefe at St. John Lutheran Church, Freedom Twp. by the Rev. A. M. Bickel. Jim is the son of Arnold E. and Ruth (Borstelman) Hogrefe of Liberty Twp. Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving in Florida, Alaska, and Japan. After discharge in 1969 the couple began farming with Nancy's father in Ridgeville Twp. Jim also resumed employment at Gerald Grain Assoc. The Hogrefes had two sons: Thomas James, born April 29, 1967; and Timothy Lee, • born February 6, 1971. Both boys were baptized at St. John Lutheran Church, Freedom Twp. by Rev. A. M. Bickel. At present, Nancy is a teller at the Farmers State Bank of McClure in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio and Jim is a salesman for Moorman Mfg. They are farming with Nancy's parents and reside on a farm in Ridgeville Twp, Route 2, Archbold.

George's parents, George and Clara, are still living and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 15, 1977 and their 90th birthdays on January 13, 1978. They are the same age, same birth date. Tillie's parents Fred and Emilie Cordes are deceased. Fred died December 23, 1964 and Emilie on July 6, 1972. Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Cordes were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon Twp. and both are buried on the St. Paul Cemetery, Napoleon Twp.