Thomas Andrew Hoffman

JASPER - Thomas Andrew Hoffman, 79, of Ann Arbor, Mich., died January 5, 2007, surrounded by his loving family in the home of his daughter.

He was born to Colletta (Daeschle) and Ferdinand Hoffman on February 5, 1927, in Jasper, Ind. He married Betty L. (Wirthwein) of Mariah Hill, Ind., in 1949.

Surviving are his loving and devoted wife, Betty; two sons, Mark (Sue) Hoffman of Valparaiso, Ind., and Frank (Catherine) Hoffman of Zionsville, Ind.; one daughter, Sarah Hoffman Rowe of Ann Arbor, Mich.; grandchildren, Heather (Hoffman) Walker of Souix Falls, S.D., Arianne (Rowe) Slay and Abigail Hoffman Rowe of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Gilbert (Catherine) Verkamp, of Jasper; three brothers, Andrew Hoffman of Cincinnati, Ohio, George Hoffman of Haubstadt, Ind., and Ambrose Hoffman, of Jasper; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Rose Ann Kuper.

Tom Hoffman was involved in athletics throughout his life. He participated in basketball and track while at Jasper High School; he was a state finalist in track his senior year, and the first basketball player from Jasper to be selected to the Indiana Basketball All-Star Team in 1945. Tom was drafted into the Army Air Force in 1945 and after serving in World War II, he played collegiate basketball at Purdue University and St. Joseph's College. He continued his devotion to basketball by coaching at Ferdinand, Ind., and St. Bridget's in Hobart, Ind. Tom was an Indiana high school and collegiate basketball official for over twenty-five years. For his accomplishments and devotion to Indiana Basketball, Tom was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in March 2006.

Tom and Betty retired in 1992 after a career in business and Boy Scouts of America. They resided thirty-three years in Hobart, Ind. They retired to Jasper, Ind., and most recently to Ann Arbor, Mich.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. CST Saturday, January 13, 2007, in the St. Ferdinand Church, Ferdinand, Ind. The Reverend John Schipp will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Ferdinand Church Cemetery following the service.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. CST to 8 p.m. CST Friday, January 12 at Becher Funeral Home, Ferdinand, and after 8:30 a.m. CST Saturday at the funeral home. Prayer service on Friday at 7 p.m. CST.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Thomas A Hoffman Endowment Scholarship Fund, Dubois County Community Foundation, P.O. BOX 269, Jasper, IN 45747-0269.