Earl R. Hoffman

Earl R. Hoffman passed away on December 11, 2015 at the age of 97 at Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, following a brief illness. He was born at Frog Pond in Wilsonville, Oregon on December 3, 1918, the third of five children to Reverend Jason & Mrs. Emma Hoffman. He graduated from high school in 1935 in West Concord, Minnesota, and married Miriam Nelson of Winona, Minnesota in 1938.

Earl was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. He was part of the U.S. Sixth Army landings at Leyte, Philippines in 1944 and served in both the Philippines and as part of the Army of Occupation in Japan until 1946. After the war Mr. Hoffman returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where he served as manager and eventual owner and CEO of the Don D. Fleming Company.

A great admirer of Oregon, Earl purchased land in Colonial Valley just outside Grants Pass in the early 1960’s and settled there after his retirement in 1977. Earl and his wife Miriam were active in the Grants Pass community for many years. Earl served as a volunteer youth advocate for the Josephine County Circuit Court; Miriam volunteered at the former Josephine Memorial Hospital. Earl was an avid bowler, golfer, and Edmonton Oilers fan.

Miriam his loving wife of 70 years preceded Earl in death. Survivors include his brother Richard Hoffman of Roseburg, OR; children Mike, Dave (Carolyn), Constance, Nancy (Clement), and Robert (Kirsten); 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Earl was a devoted family man. He will be fondly and respectfully remembered for his leadership and wisdom, creativity and humor, love and generosity.