Norman Hoppe

Norman Z. Hoppe, age 90 of Freeport, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at the V.A. Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose with a prayer service at 6:50 p.m. Interment with military honors will be at 12 p.m. Friday at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, Minnesota.

Norman Zeno Hoppe was born October 2, 1935 in New Munich, Minnesota to Zeno and Veronica (Paul) Hoppe. Norman entered the U.S. Navy in 1954, serving as a Navy Diver and Welder, skilled in metalwork and fabrication. He retired honorably after 20 years of dedicated service, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He received many medals and commendations including, Navy Commendation Medal with combat valor, Navy Achievement Medal with combat valor, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal-Vietnam, National Defense Service Medal, and many others. After retiring from the Navy, Norman worked in construction across the country. He started his own excavating business after returning to Minnesota which he operated until 1987.

After being wounded in Vietnam, Norman attended Culinary School in Los Angeles while recuperating, where he discovered a love for cooking and became a good cook. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, and playing cards, and was known as both an expert marksman and a skilled Cribbage player. A devout Catholic, Norman was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, Minnesota.

Norman was married to Myra Whitney, and together they had two children and later divorced. In 1994, Myra passed away from cancer.

Survivors include his children, Byron (Teru) Hoppe of Grey Eagle and Brenda (Richard) Pomrenke of Fort Ripley; siblings, Joe Hoppe of Freeport, Harold Hoppe of Freeport, and Janet Hoeschen of Minneapolis; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Virgil Hoppe, Louise Simmer, Rosemarie Och, and James Hoppe; and grandson, Jerimiah Hoppe.