Gerald "Jerry" K. Hoffart

Gerald K. “Jerry” Hoffart, age 81 of Hartington, Nebraska died on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington with the Rev. Kevin Vogel officiating. Burial will be at St. Michael’s cemetery in Hartington. Visitation will be on Monday, at church, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday, at church, one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Pallbearers will be Bennett Steffen, Sydney Schmaderer, Maxwell Steffen, Jacob Steffen, Bob Schmaderer, Tera Kastrup, Thom Kastrup, John Hoffart, and Brooke Steffen.

Gerald Kenneth was born on October 27, 1944 to Harold and Marcella (Bruening) Hoffart in Hartington, Nebraska. He grew up in Coleridge and graduated from Coleridge High School in 1962. He attended Northeast Community College before starting a lifelong career in the dairy industry. At the age of 19, he started working for John Neu at the Hartington Dairy and Jim Neu at the Neu Cheese Co. which eventually became Mid-Am then DFA. He retired after 42 years in 2005.

Jerry married Jean Lynn Riibe on January 16, 1965 in Hartington. They built their home in 1968, raised their four children there, and continued living there until their passing.

Jerry was a faithful Cubs fan, an avid golfer and a devoted Catholic who attended daily mass for many years as long as his work schedule allowed and prayed a daily rosary always. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus. Jerry & Jean were coordinators of the Cedar County Lifeline for decades. For years, prior to his recent blood disease diagnosis, he donated a total of 16 gallons of blood through LifeServe. Jerry was a generous provider and a family-man above all things.

Jerry is survived by three children, Kent and Therese Hoffart, Jill Hoffart and Jayne and Steve Steffen all of Hartington; son-in-law Greg and Kim Johnson, (Verdigre) Grandchildren, Bennett and Brooke Steffen, (Norfolk), Sydney and Robert Schmaderer (West Point), Maxwell Steffen (Lincoln), Jacob Steffen (Norfolk); Great-Grandchildren, Nora Steffen and Nash Steffen (Norfolk); his sister Ruth Ann and Henry Kusel of (Riverton, WY); brother Randy Hoffart and Rebecca Sutherland (Hartington/Rockport, TX); sister-in-law, Joann Hoffart (Coleridge); brother-in-law Jerry and Jody Riibe (Mesa, Az); niece Tera Kastrup (Hartington) and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Jean (2022); a daughter Kristen Johnson (2013); a brother Larry Hoffart; a brother and sister-in-law, Galen & Leslie Hoffart; in-laws, Alphonse and Julia Riibe; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law Julie and Robert Kastrup.