Obituary of Helmuth E. Hoff

Helmuth Elmer Hoff, M.D., age 86, of Lodi, California passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2006, in Lodi, California. Dr. Hoff was born on May 26, 1920, on a farm near Tripp, South Dakota.. He was the son of Henry Hoff, Jr., and Lydia Guthmiller Hoff. He was one of eleven children with six brothers and four sisters. He attended Tripp High School in Tripp, South Dakota. He received his B.A. degree from University of South Dakota at Vermillion, S.D. where he was involved in cancer research with Dr. McEwen in 1941-1942. He was awarded his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 1945. He served his internship and residency at Deaconess Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He entered the United States Army Medical Corps, and served in general hospitals and concluded his services in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged as a captain. Dr. Hoff married his late wife Virginia Lee Colston on January 19, 1947, in San Antonio, Texas. She died February 25, 1990. On May 17, 1948, Dr. Hoff began his practice of medicine as a family physician in Lodi with Dr. Sam Leiske. He began his own private practice in August 1952. In 1963 Dr. Donald Saunders joined him as a partner. This was followed by his sons, Drs. Mark and Jim Hoff; joining him in partnership in 1977 and 1983 respectively. Dr. Hoff retired in 1986, and remained in contact with many of his patients after that time, a reflection of the love he had in serving as their physician. Dr. Hoff served on the Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation Board since 1991. He was a member of the American Medical Association; California Medical Association; San Joaquin County Medical Society and served as its president in 1978. He was a charter member of the Academy of Family Physicians. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Family Physicians. He served as Medical Staff President of Lodi Memorial, Buchanan and Mason Hospitals. Dr. Hoff was a member of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission of the Superior Court of San Joaquin County. He counseled many drug users for several years. Dr. Hoff was also a member of the Lodi High School Board. He was a member of Zion Reformed Church since 1948. He served as past president at Zion and also organized the first Sunday school class for high school students. In 1961 he was selected by Church World Service to speak to Hungarian refugees in Austria after the Hungarian Revolution. He is survived by his wife Lorene Hoff and children, Dr. Mark Hoff (wife, Dr. Nancy Hoff) Dr. Jim Hoff (wife, Dr. Mary Hoff); and Carolyn Hoff; all of Lodi; Wayne Hoff of Santa Cruz, CA; and step-daughter Jenanne Bull of Lodi, CA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; Brad, Troy, Lisa, Sarah, Ryan, Chris, and Daniel Hoff. He is survived by his sister Edna Heisinger; brother Sam Hoff (wife Dorothy) of Mitchell, SD; Norman Hoff (wife Irene) of Belleville, IL; and two sisters-in-law, Alma Hoff of Mitchell, SD and Eva Hoff of Fremont NE. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Emma and husband Leon Winckler; Relitta and husband William Thury; Viola and husband Helmuth Herr; brother Eugene and wife Louise Hoff; brothers, Tape Hoff and Ray Hoff; brother Erwin Hoff and wife Rebecca; and brother-in-law Vic Heisinger. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 6, at 7pm at Zion Reformed Church, 105 South Ham Lane, Lodi, CA 95242. Committal will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Zion Reformed Church, 105 South Ham Lane, Lodi, CA 95242; Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc. 999 South Fairmont Ave., Ste. 105, Lodi, CA 95240; or to the charity of the donor?s choice.