Margaret Elaine Hofmeister (nee Vradenburg), 91, of Ellsworth died Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the Ellsworth Care Center, Ellsworth, WI.
Margaret was born in rural Durand, Pepin County, Wisconsin to Raymond and Jennie Vradenburg on November 16, 1923. She grew up on the family farm near the Chippewa River with her brother Everett and sisters Dorothy, Lucille and Evelyn.
She attended school through the 8th grade and completed her GED later in life after her children were born .
During the war Margaret was a “Rosie” working at the Gillett Tire plant in Eau Claire where they manufactured artillery shells and later at the Globe Union Company in Milwaukee where they made electronic parts.
Margaret married C.J. Hofmeister on February 3, 1945 in Durand, WI when he was home on leave. Soon thereafter he returned to the war in the Philippines.
After C.J. returned from overseas, after the war they moved to Ellsworth, Wisconsin. They built a house on highway 10 and in 1969 they bought property north of Ellsworth They spent their remaining years at that home on “Breezy Hill”. Her children were born in 1946, 1951, 1956 and 1961. She was a devoted Mother and Wife and was the heart and soul of her family.
Margaret was active in the community; a member of the English Lutheran church, the Women of English Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary, Cub Scout and Girl Scout Leader,
She loved to bowl, golf, play bridge and organize her semi-annual garage sale. She also delivered Meals on Wheels, and with Barb Winger ran the English Lutheran Church Fair Stand for more than 25 years.
She attended many, many school sports events in which her children and grandchildren participated and was a BIG FAN of the Green Bay Packers from the Lombardi era, until she could no longer participate.
She has been cared for by the wonderful staff at the Ellsworth Care Center for the past six and one-half years, with the assistance of St Croix Hospice for the past 18 months. For their care, her family is grateful!
She is survived by her children: Greg (Judy), Sid (Debbie), Jack (Sharon) and Ava (Scott) Maxwell. Grandchildren: Jenny Hamby, Emily Zimmerman, Ben Hofmeister, Laura Hurwitz, Kyle, Brett and Alison Hofmeister, Cooper and Connor Maxwell. Great-grandchildren: Maggie and Ryan Hamby, Grace and Nathan Zimmerman, Austin Hofmeister, and Cayden Maxwell. She is further survived by her sisters Lucille (Glenn) Barquest, and Evelyn Schulner, Sister in-law Phyllis Vradenburg and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, brother Everett Vradenburg, sister Dorothy Torgrimson, and Dorothy’s husband Tim, and Evelyn’s husband George.
In lieu of flowers memorials to St Croix Hospice and English Lutheran Church Fair Stand are preferred.
Funeral services for Margaret will be at 2:00pm Saturday, January 17, 2015 at English Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Ellsworth. Visitation will be from 12:00pm until time of the funeral at 2:00pm on Saturday.
Hill Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Ellsworth, WI is serving the family.