Don J. Hofstetter, age 93, of California, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 11, 2018, at the Moniteau Care Center in California, Missouri. He was the son of Rufus and Mona (Knife) Hofstetter who preceded him in death. Don was born February 3, 1924, in Moniteau County.
Don is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Eleanor (Aeschbacher) Hofstetter and two daughters, Sandra (Steven) Peters of Montevallo, Alabama and Brenda Hofstetter of California, Missouri and grandsons, James and Matthew Peters both of Lawrence, Kansas.
Don fought in WWII. He was drafted in the Army in October of 1942. He received his training at Ft. Leonard Wood and volunteered to go overseas. He was sent to the Pacific Theater and was on several of the islands. He was in the Philippines when he was severely wounded in battle. Don received six different medals, the WWII Victory Medal, a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, an Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and a Sharp Shooter Medal. He was very proud of his service. In 2009, Don was part of a delegation of Missouri veterans who were flown to Washington D.C. on the Honor Flight, where he was accompanied by his brother Kay. Don was honored there for his service to his country. This was a highlight in his life.
In his early career, Don owned a Mobile Service Station in California for several years. He later worked for Just Rite Potato Chips and Frito-Lay as a route salesman. He went on to work for the Missouri Corrections Center where he retired in 1989.
Don had a green thumb for gardening and growing all kinds of vegetables. He kept his neighbors supplied with cantaloupe. He enjoyed watching NASCAR races, basketball games on television and enjoyed fishing. In his later years, he especially enjoyed taking his grandsons fishing. Don was a member of the California United Church of Christ and the VFW Post in California.
Don was loyal and loved his family. He is also survived by several brothers and sisters, Dale (Marlyn) Hofstetter of Jefferson City, Missouri, Ross Hofstetter of Boonville, Missouri, Kay (Carolyn) Hofstetter of Tipton, Missouri, Dolores Bestgen and Darlene (Don) Matthews all of California, Missouri and Gene Coale and Ramona (Jim) Lubbert all of Jefferson City, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Mary Schaffter and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gilbert and Vernon Hofstetter and two sisters, Nadine Garber and Wilma Lee Thompson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 15th, at the California United Church of Christ with Reverend Gene Moll officiating. Graveside services and interment with full military honors will follow in the United Church of Christ Cemetery in California. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday, at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Great Circle – Tom Butterfield Campus, P.O. Box 333, Marshall, Missouri 65340-9989 or The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri Buddy Pack Program, 2101 Vandiver Drive, Columbia, Missouri 65202-1910.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.
Don is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Eleanor (Aeschbacher) Hofstetter and two daughters, Sandra (Steven) Peters of Montevallo, Alabama and Brenda Hofstetter of California, Missouri and grandsons, James and Matthew Peters both of Lawrence, Kansas.
Don fought in WWII. He was drafted in the Army in October of 1942. He received his training at Ft. Leonard Wood and volunteered to go overseas. He was sent to the Pacific Theater and was on several of the islands. He was in the Philippines when he was severely wounded in battle. Don received six different medals, the WWII Victory Medal, a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, an Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and a Sharp Shooter Medal. He was very proud of his service. In 2009, Don was part of a delegation of Missouri veterans who were flown to Washington D.C. on the Honor Flight, where he was accompanied by his brother Kay. Don was honored there for his service to his country. This was a highlight in his life.
In his early career, Don owned a Mobile Service Station in California for several years. He later worked for Just Rite Potato Chips and Frito-Lay as a route salesman. He went on to work for the Missouri Corrections Center where he retired in 1989.
Don had a green thumb for gardening and growing all kinds of vegetables. He kept his neighbors supplied with cantaloupe. He enjoyed watching NASCAR races, basketball games on television and enjoyed fishing. In his later years, he especially enjoyed taking his grandsons fishing. Don was a member of the California United Church of Christ and the VFW Post in California.
Don was loyal and loved his family. He is also survived by several brothers and sisters, Dale (Marlyn) Hofstetter of Jefferson City, Missouri, Ross Hofstetter of Boonville, Missouri, Kay (Carolyn) Hofstetter of Tipton, Missouri, Dolores Bestgen and Darlene (Don) Matthews all of California, Missouri and Gene Coale and Ramona (Jim) Lubbert all of Jefferson City, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Mary Schaffter and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gilbert and Vernon Hofstetter and two sisters, Nadine Garber and Wilma Lee Thompson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 15th, at the California United Church of Christ with Reverend Gene Moll officiating. Graveside services and interment with full military honors will follow in the United Church of Christ Cemetery in California. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday, at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Great Circle – Tom Butterfield Campus, P.O. Box 333, Marshall, Missouri 65340-9989 or The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri Buddy Pack Program, 2101 Vandiver Drive, Columbia, Missouri 65202-1910.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.
