Clara M. Hoffer

Clara M. (Adam) Hoffer, 88, a 51-year resident of Las Cruces, NM, died at The Heritage Assisted Living in Las Cruces, Wednesday morning, May 18, 2016. Clara was born on April 16, 1928, on the Gottfried and Eva (Dockter) Adam farm, a few miles northeast of Roscoe, SD. She had six older brothers (Fred, Albert, Gustave, Gottfried, Walter and Reinhold). Later, she had two younger sisters (Christina and Frieda). She married Arthur Hoffer on October 31, 1948. While in Roscoe, they had two children, Wayne and Peggy. They left Roscoe and moved to Igloo/the Black Hills Ordnance/Army Depot in 1950. While at the Depot, Clara did her part during the Korean War; she had a temporary appointment loading ammunition. She "retired" to have two more children, Cynthia and Jacqueline. Later, she started up and supervised the Igloo Teen Club. She became Mom to over half the town's teens. When the Depot was closed, in 1965, Clara and her family moved to Las Cruces, NM, where Art worked for the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range and she worked as a bookkeeper five years for the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Food Service, five years with Tegmeyer's Steakhouse, a short stint with Western Farm Bureau, two years with Best Western of Las Cruces, and five years with Simpson Farms. She and Art completed their GEDs in the mid-60s and Clara began challenging her kids by taking college courses at NMSU. Clara and Art loved to bowl. Clara served as Secretary for the Las Cruces Bowling Association for 15 years. She was an outstanding bowler winning many tournaments throughout the state. Clara and Art began their traveling in earnest after they both retired. They were members of the Good Sam Dona Ana Peppers Travel Club, where Clara served as Historian, and she also served two years as the NM Southwest District Assistant State Director for Good Sam. Clara was a life-long member or held positions in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary (Post # 10124), and both Peace and Trinity Lutheran Church in Las Cruces. In 2010, Clara wrote a book of some of her memories growing up. The book, "As Bob Would Say, 'Thanks for the Memories'", was published in 2011. She'd planned to write a second book, but failing health precluded it. Clara is survived by her children: Wayne Hoffer and his wife, Debra, of Santa Rosa, CA; Peggy Hoffer of Las Cruces and Cynthia (Hoffer) Lynch and her husband, Gary, of Ruidoso. She also is survived by her grandchildren (Jacqueline (Hoffer) and Floyd's children) Tuesday Smith; Candice, and her husband Bryan, Leinart and Lance Smith and (Wayne and Debra's children) Elizabeth-Rose Kordes; Rebecca, and her husband Christopher, Whitman and Andrew Hoffer. Her great grandchildren include Tuesday's children, Adalia and Jalen; Candice's children, Payton, Landrie and Dax; and Rebecca's children, Harrison and August. Clara is also survived by three in-laws (Ida Adam (Roscoe, SD) and Mervin and Lorraine Hoffer, Coon Rapids, MN); some cousins and numerous nephews and nieces. Preceding her in death are Arthur, her husband of 57 years; her youngest daughter, Jacqueline, and her husband, Floyd Smith; her parents and all of her brothers and sisters and remaining in-laws; as well as, most of her cousins and some nephews and nieces. The Memorial Service for Clara will be held on June 3, Friday, beginning at 1000, at Peace Lutheran Church, 1701 E. Missouri, Las Cruces. Immediately after the service, attendees may proceed to Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, located at 5140 W. Picacho Avenue, Las Cruces, for burial. All are welcome to participate. Then attendees may return to Peace Lutheran for refreshments, and again, all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Peace Lutheran Church or your favorite animal rescue or veterans' organization in Memory of Clara M. Hoffer.