George Hoffrogge

George JB Hoffrogge, third child of John and Reka (Henning) Hoffrogge, was born May 19, 1922 in Johnsonville Township near Lamberton, Minnesota. He attended primary school in rural Johnsonville Township and graduated from Wabasso High School in 1940. George worked on the family farm and with his uncle and later with Zaske Construction as a drag line operator until 1944 when he enlisted in the armed services. He was shipped overseas in 1945 as a member of the 97th Infantry, 3rd Army and was deployed in the European Theatre, serving in France, Czechoslovakia and Germany. George was honorably discharged in June 1946 having achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He returned to farming in Southwestern Minnesota and on June 27, 1959, he married Harriet Bode at Immanuel Lutheran Church, in rural Courtland, Minnesota. They retired from farming in 1987. He was a former board member of the St. John's Nursing Home in Springfield and served multiple terms on the councils of the Revere Lutheran Church and Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lamberton . He was a member of the board of directors of Redwood County Mutual Insurance Company for 15 years. George is remembered by his family as a devoted husband, as an always supportive and proud Father, and as a childlike and playful Grandpa. And although his battle with Alzheimer's Disease dampened many aspects of his life at the end, George will be remember for the big, warm smile that he always had for you. George JB Hoffrogge died Wednesday, September 27, 2006, at Sunwood Good Samaritan Center in Redwood Falls at the age of 84 years. George is survived by his wife Harriet of Lamberton; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Karen Hoffrogge, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; a daughter, Barb Hoffrogge of Edina; two grandchildren, Hannah and Jacob Hoffrogge of Toronto; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Elaine Hoffrogge of Madelia; brother and sister-in-law, Harry and Doris Hoffrogge of Mankato; sister and brother-in-law, Millie and Fred Otesse of Mankato; sister, LuElla Gentz of Sleepy Eye; sister, Ella Hanson of Walnut Grove, sister-in-law, Inez Hoffrogge of Madelia, and sister-in-law, Dorris Hoffrogge of Alexandria, ; He was preceded in death by his parents, by sister Marie Gremetz and husband Herman, by sister Leona Hoffrogge, and by brother Seibo and wife Gladys, brother Henry, brother Marvin and brother-in-law Derold Hanson.