Loyd M. Hofer, 92, of Sumner, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Unity Point/Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 24, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Sumner with Pastor Bill Letcher officiating. Interment will follow in Union Mound Cemetery in Sumner with military rites provided by Thomas E. Woods, Post #223, American Legion of Sumner. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23^rd, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Friday. 

Loyd Merle, son of Simon and Mabel Smith Hofer, was born December 28, 1922, in Tama County, Iowa. He graduated from Toledo High School and later attended a technical school in Chicago where he learned welding. He worked as a welder in California for a brief time before returning to the Toledo area.  He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. On December 29, 1943, he was united in marriage with Juanita Teckenburg in Waterloo. Loyd farmed in the Toledo and Sumner areas prior to retiring in 1978. He enjoyed traveling and listening to Bluegrass music. Juanita’s death occurred on November 18, 1999. On July 20, 2000, he was married to Variena Schulte Potratz. Variena’s death occurred December 24, 2014. Loyd was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sumner and Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner.

Loyd is survived by two sons, Darwin (Eileen) Hofer of Parkersburg and Darrel Hofer of Sumner; three daughters, Debrah (David) Lalk of Westgate, Deanna (Larry) Luck of New Hartford, and Donita Conaway of Jesup; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-three great grandchildren; and one great great grandson.

In addition to his two wives and parents, Loyd was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Mandy Shannon; one great grandson, Benaiah Hofer; and two sisters, Wanda Thede and Mildred Swartzendruber.