William Edward Hoffman

William E. Hoffman, age 79, of Hastings, passed away at United Hospital in St. Paul on June 21, 2014. He was born May 15, 1935 in Detroit, MI to Carl and Lorraine Hoffman. He grew up in Detroit, graduating from Redford Union High School in 1955. He met and shortly after married the love of his life, Barbara Marie Schallier, in Bay City, MI. Both Steve and Renee were born in MI, but the family moved to MN before Michelle and Stefanie were born. They spent most of their married life in Minnesota, but lived out east in PA and New Jersey from 1980-1988. William spent his entire life in sales. His first job was selling Gerber baby foods, he went on to sell encyclopedias, cars, owned a buyers club called P.A.C.T., and ended his career in pre-need mausoleum sales. He loved meeting people and making them laugh. Whether you knew him as Sweet William or Wild Bill Hoffman, he was one of those rare individuals that could instantly make anyone feel like a long-time friend and be happy for the time together. He was patient, eternally optimistic, loving, genuine and full of unexpected acts of kindness. He was a dear friend and loving father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather. William is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; parents; and brothers, Carl “Bud” and Robert Hoffman. He is survived by his daughter, Renee Hoffman of Kansas City, MO; son Steve Hoffman of Rosemount; daughter, Michelle (Bruce) Frank of Oakdale; daughter Stefanie (Phillip) Dawson of River Falls, WI; grandchildren, Nicole (Jason) Bonine of St. Paul; Alek Iantonsa of Apple Valley; Timothy Hoffman of Kansas City, MO; Cassandra Hoffman of Kansas City, MO; great granddaughter, Harper; and sister, Laurie Hoffman of Las Vegas. A Funeral Service, officiated by Pastor Jim Anderson, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday (6/28) at The Harbor Church, 11125 West Point Douglas Road, Hastings. A visitation will be held on Friday (6/27) from 5:00 -8:00 p.m. at Wise Family Funeral Home, 400 Spring St., Hastings and 1 hour prior to the service at church. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights. Pallbearers are Steve Hoffman, Phil Dawson, Bruce Frank, Jason Bonine and Russell Pavlak. Visit www.wisefamilyfh.com to view the memorial video and sign the online guestbook.