Raymond "Ray" Hofman

Raymond William Hofman, 55, of Waupun, peacefully entered his heavenly home with loving family by his side on Sunday, April 13, 2025 after an 11-month courageous battle with brain cancer.

Ray was born July 16, 1969 in Waupun, the fifth of eleven children born to Gerrith and Phyllis Hofman. Ray graduated from CWC in 1987 and continued running the family farm until 1991 when he joined his wife’s family business, Sam’s Well Drilling. He worked as a skilled rig operator & part-owner for 34 years. Ray met the love of his life in high school, Brenda Vander Galien, and they were married at Second Christian Reformed Church in Randolph on August 6, 1993. Ray was a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Waupun and over the years served as a Cadet Counselor, Youth Group Leader, Catechism Teacher, Deacon and Elder.

Ray lived life to the fullest, embracing every moment with a competitive spirit, a love for adventure and the joyful heart of a big kid, a.k.a. “the world’s oldest 12-year-old.” He pursued his passions with energy and enthusiasm – whether he was riding his street bike, traveling and road racing around the nation with his buddies, tearing through ice or dirt on bikes, long-distance running or carving down the slopes on skis. Ray always put camaraderie and community ahead of the activity. Ray also found joy in mentoring others, generously sharing his knowledge about how to fix their bikes and how to . . .“Ride like Ray!”

Ray is survived by his wife of 31 years, Brenda; mother, Phyllis Hofman; four brothers, Henry (Kris), Matt (Sarah), Peter (Kristi), Sam (Katie); six sisters, Gretchen (Darrall) Schaver, Elizabeth (Jim) Vander Galien, Shelly (John) Bronkhorst, Vanessa (Paul) Buteyn, Jessica (Ron) Van Der Pol, and Abby (Jeff) Vree; father and mother-in-law, Sam (Sylvia) Vander Galien; sister-in-law, Lori Vander Galien; brothers-in-law, Jim (Elizabeth) Vander Galien, Sid (Alysa) Vander Galien; 41 nieces and nephews; 22 great nieces and nephews with one on the way.

Ray was preceded in death by the unborn children he and Brenda lost through miscarriage, losses they carried with quiet strength and enduring love; also, his father, Gary.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. at First Christian Reformed Church in Waupun with Pastor Greg Schuringa officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens in the town of Trenton. Visitation will be held on Friday at Werner-Harmsen Funeral Home in Waupun from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CWC, designated to the Ag Pro Tech Department via check or online at www.wearecwc.org/support/give.cfm.

Watch Ray Hofman's Funeral Service live here.