Mark Hoffman

Mark James Hoffman passed away peacefully on May 26, 2023, at his home in Pequot Lakes, MN. He fought a valiant battle for over 2 ½ years against lung cancer. Mark is now with his Savior, at peace, and pain free.
Mark was born in Austin, MN on July 12, 1959, to Leslie and Ethel (Barber) Hoffman. He grew up on the family farm in rural Blooming Prairie, MN. He attended Blooming Prairie schools graduating in 1977. During his elementary school years, Mark met the love of his life but didn’t know it until 1975 when he started dating Ginger Jelinek.  

Mark enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving from 1977-1981 as an aircraft mechanic while stationed in the Philippines, Utah, Florida, Alaska, and Germany. His military service continued with the U.S. Air Force Reserves 1982-1989 and U.S. Army Reserves 1999-2007. He was deployed during Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan 2004-2005.  He returned from deployment with injuries and PTSD. He retired in 2007 as a Staff Sgt.  Mark was proud of his military service.

Mark attended the University of Oregon, transferring to Oregon State University, graduating in 1988 as an Industrial Engineer. He worked in a variety of manufacturing engineering positions in Oregon and Minnesota. He was employed at Hunt Technology/Landis+Gyr, Pequot Lakes from 1999 to retirement in 2015. His job required extensive travel to manufacturing facilities in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, and Poland. Mark loved to travel and completely immersed himself in the culture of the country or area he visited. He was always willing to eat the local cuisine, travel on a motor scooter to see the countryside and worship in church homes. Mark’s travel always took him off the usual path and provided a lifetime of stories. 

Mark and Ginger married on December 20, 1981. They have two children, Carley and Kyle, who they raised in Pequot Lakes. Mark enjoyed music, particularly 70’s, traveling, camping, archery, and working on old cars and engines. Mark was the MN archery champion in 1976 and again at age 60.  
Mark and Ginger owned two 1970 Buick GS red convertibles. He was restoring one car when he became ill. He loved entering car shows and Wednesday night rides with the Laker Car Club that he was a member of.    
Mark was a member of Timberwood Church where he participated in Bible studies, small group, ushering, youth leader, and cleaning crew. He also participated in Boy Scouts with Kyle and camping trips to the Boundary Waters.  

Mark is survived by his wife, Ginger; daughter, Carley (Noah) Neuhaus, Eugene, Oregon; son, Kyle Hoffman, Rochester, MN; sister, Marcia (Darrell) Peterson, Rapid City, SD; brother, Mike (Julie) Hoffman, Blooming Prairie, MN; sister-in-law, Tracey (Bob) Bengson, Litchfield, MN; several nephews and a niece and their families; cousins and friends.  Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Ethel and in-laws, Dick and Connie Jelinek.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Timberwood Church, Nisswa, MN. Visitation will take place at 11 a.m. prior to services. Private interment will be at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Cemetery, rural Austin, MN at a later date. Mark’s family would prefer memorials to Timberwood Church or DAV in lieu of flowers.