Obituary of Theodore Elso Hoffmann

Ted was born to Hajo and Etta Hoffmann on the family farm west of Esther on June 25, 1928. He grew up with his brother John on the farm and attended Esther School four miles north, traveling by horse. He farmed with his dad and also purchased the Prentice farm. There was always lots to do and places to go - community picnics, ball games, curling and lots of dances to attend. On May 5th of 1976, Ted married Marie Carlson. Not only did he gain a wife, but a stepdaughter as well. This was a big change in his life! He walked Penny down the aisle in July of 1988, and sadly lost Marie in November of the same year. Emma Nighswander, a childhood friend, came into his life and they were married August 31, 1996. They moved to Oyen and enjoyed several years of great companionship. They traveled to many places in Canada and the US, kept a nice yard and garden, did a lot of golfing and attended many social events. Emma passed away in 2012 and Ted continued to live in his house until 2017, when he moved into the Oyen Lodge, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Mostly, he enjoyed the company of the staff and fellow residents and kept busy participating in various tournaments, playing games, making puzzles and listening to the musical entertainers. From the time Ted was a young boy he had a love of dogs and always had one by his side. He was a fun loving person, always getting a laugh out of something like his collapsible outhouse or some creature that would startle you when you walked by it. He had a terrific memory for birthdays, ages and phone numbers. He was a good source for information about who lived where in the area and how everyone was related. Ted moved to the Oyen Long Term Care in the spring of this year, where he resided until his passing. Ted was predeceased by his parents, Hajo and Etta Hoffmann, his first wife Marie Hoffmann and his second wife Emma Hoffmann, nephew Brian Hoffmann, brother and sister in law John and Dorothy Hoffmann and stepson Russell Nighswander. Ted is survived by his stepdaughter, Penny Bandura and her children Josh and Emily of Edmonton; stepsons Len Nighswander of Edmonton and Barry (Margo) Nighswander of Vancouver; step granddaughters Tammy (Wes) Ehler of Calgary and Cindy (Chris) Schultz of Red Deer; nephews Wayne and Russell Hoffmann, Reg (Carmen) Hoffmann, all of Esther; Deb Hoffmann (Dan Beaudry) of Hanna; niece Byrne (Clark) Huston of Sibbald; great nieces and nephews Angela (Jim) Murphy and Curtis Hoffmann; Laura (Dwayne) MacDougall, Jeanine (Dean) Edge, Joanne (Murray) Pole, Marika (Trent) Lyster, Melissa (Ty) Corbiell and Brett (Tanya) Huston; Karli (Eric) Watson, Chris, Kyle and Tayler Hoffmann. Great great nieces and nephews Sean, Natasha and Tyler Murphy; Khiara, Colin, Taryn and Wyatt MacDougall; Erin, Lexie and Lane Edge; Levi, Laci and Piper Pole; Brandt, Brianna and Macy Lyster; Dane, Ryle and Barron Corbiell; Natalie and Claire Huston; Ella and Maddie Watson. Ted’s family will gather for a private ceremony at Esther Cemetery to celebrate his life and lay him to rest. Memorial tributes may be directed to Oyen and District Health Care Foundation Box 1, Oyen, AB T0J2J0 or to a charity of donors choice