On Friday, December 28, 2018, LaVerne "Vernie" Albina Marie (Brezina) Hoff, a loving grandmother famed for her sewing skills and known for being kind to downtrodden people, passed away at age 91.
Vernie was born on June 17, 1927, in a farm house in rural Pope County, Minnesota to Joseph Brezina and Mary "Marie" (Kuklish) Brezina. The first language Vernie learned was Czech.
Vernie's personality was formed by childhood during the Great Depression. Vernie's parents were unable to care for her when she was quite young, and though she lived for a time in Villard, Minnesota, eventually she was sent to live at the St. Cloud, Minnesota orphanage despite the fact both her parents were still alive.
At about the age of 12, Vernie was entrusted with a baby to care for like a mother, as was the custom at the orphanage. The baby, whose name is Mabel Brown, grew to live a good and productive life and never forgot Vernie's kindness.
Vernie became a skilled seamstress early in life, learning some skills from a little booklet she bought for a nickel. At the age of 15, Vernie was finally allowed to leave the orphanage and live with her father on a farm of approximately 11 acres, near Forada, Minnesota. Her father gave Vernie a red rose bush, as a gift to mark her miraculous return on her 15th birthday. Vernie began to dream of becoming a nurse.
Vernie attended nursing school for a time in the Twin Cities, but was unable to continue for financial reasons. Vernie returned to the farm with her father, where she worked industriously, running the household, farm equipment and helping man the fields. She overcame both disabling rickets and severe hay fever. Although she worked beyond exhaustion, she always maintained a positive, energetic outlook.
Some time around World War II, her father bought Vernie a black Singer brand treadle sewing machine as a birthday present. Vernie used the sewing machine well past the year 2000. Vernie's frugality, which she called "being save-y," was legendary. She could squeeze a nickel until it screamed out a dime. Her work ethic was super human, even late in life.
During World War II, Vernie began donating blood to the Red Cross. Vernie continued donating regularly until she was in her 70s and health issues made her unable to continue. She collected a large number of "gallon pins" and once attended a dinner party held in honor of super blood donors.
In the 1950s beloved auntie Vernie cared for her niece and nephew, Janverne' and Jory, at the farm so her sister, deAnne, could pursue dreams in Alaska. It was around this period of time that Joe Brezina found a wounded bald eagle. Vernie and Joe nursed the eagle, named "Baldy," back to health. Baldy, who could no longer fly, was donated to the Como Zoo in St Paul where he lived for many years.
Vernie was devasted by the loss of her father in 1960 to a heart attack. In 1965, Vernie was working as a waitress in Glenwood, Minnesota, when she met Willard Hoff, a World War II veteran. Willard offered to help fix things on the farm, but soon the couple fell in love. Vernie and Willard were married on June 21, 1965 , in Glenwood, Minnesota, and soon had a son, John.
Early in their marriage, an accumulation of back taxes hung over the little farm near Forada. To save the farm, Vernie and Willard journeyed to Kansas and Oklahoma in a travel trailer, working on harvesting wheat. For a period of time they resided at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while Willard took classes in cooking and industrial arts offered to former service members. A daughter, Mary, was born to the couple while they passed through Pratt, Kansas. These desperate efforts succeeded in paying off the back taxes.
Vernie lived on that farm the rest of her life. She never wanted to leave that farm. A third child, Judd, was born to the couple.
Besides seamstress work, Vernie was skillful in dressing wild game and domestic fowl. For decades, hunters from far and wide sought Vernie's services.
In the 1970s, Vernie started an informal organization she called "Helping Hands," which redistributed clothing out of a garage on the farm. Even when deeply involved in her own economic struggles, Vernie always sought to help others. She was always bringing books to a jail, or creating a special quilt for a single mother, or mending somebody's torn work uniform at a greatly reduced rate. Her good works were endless but except for once being formally recognized for blood donation, her deeds always existed below the radar of public recognition.
She was a devout Christian but did not stick to one church. Vernie was especially fond of churches where food or clothing distribution efforts were underway. She sometimes let downtrodden people live on her farm for a few weeks or months until their luck turned around.
Vernie and Willard, who both experienced difficult times in the 1930s and World War II, were always appalled by how much food modern America wastes and were constantly involved in salvage and redistribution efforts. John, their son, wrote two books under the name "John Hoffman" which focus on the frugal life lessons taught by his parents and lived by his siblings. These books are The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving and Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course.
Publicity associated with the first book helped lead to the passage of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donations Act during the Clinton administration. This law, which contains the save-y wisdom and community-minded spirit of Vernie Hoff, protects stores and restaurants from legal liability when making donations to food banks and soup kitchens.
Vernie's daughter, Mary, became a registered nurse. Vernie was proud and happy that her own unfulfilled nursing dream was taken up by her daughter. When her son, Judd Hoff, undertook an arduous and dangerous canoe journey to duplicate the famed voyage of Eric Sevareid, Vernie was both materially and emotionally supportive of this dream.
Vernie was an endless source of comfort and solace to her veteran husband. Vernie always kept the family together when things were falling apart, one way or another. The farmhouse did not have indoor plumbing until about 10 years into the marriage, and the house was heated solely with wood until approximately 1984, some 19 years into the marriage.
Following the death of her husband in late December of 1988, Vernie continued for three decades in sewing, gardening, dressing wild game, babysitting her own grandchildren and the children of others, and efforts to help the poor, always living on that same little farm near Forada, Minnesota. But all her life Vernie was an amazing dancer, and even when a senior citizen she could be spotted tearing up the dance floor at the Alexandria, Minnesota, VFW with her companion, Clarence Hoppe.
When Vernie was in her early 80s, she decided it was unsafe to continue driving and voluntarily turned in her license, despite a stellar lifetime driving record. This act was prompted only by good citizenship and a feeling that God was guiding her to perform this action, not by any citation or near-miss.
Vernie adored little children and was surrounded by them to the very end of her days as her son, Judd, lived on the little farm with his wife, Trista, and their six children. While Vernie's son, John, served in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Vernie displayed a blue star in the window of her front door and prayed for John's safe return. She survived open-heart surgery in 2012.
Vernie passed away during the terrible winter weather of late December, 2018. Vernie was always adamant that she did not want to be in a nursing home but preferred to live on her beloved farm. Youngest son Judd Hoff made this quality-of-life wish possible by residing on the farm with his family.
Vernie was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Marie, her loving husband of 23 years, Willard Reuben Hoff, her sister, Christina "deAnne" Anastasia Brezina, a twin sister who did not survive birth, infant brother Marvel Joseph Brezina, her twins lost to miscarriage and her former companion Clarence Hoppe.
Vernie is survived by her son, Sergeant John Willard Hoff of Midwest City, Oklahoma, her daughter Maryaquin "Mary" Louise Feigum of Alexandria, Minnesota, (husband Timothy) and son Judd Bradford Hoff of Forada, Minnesota. (wife Trista) Vernie is also survived by her niece, Janverne' Hnilicka of Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as Janverne's children, and by nephew Jory Tremblay who divides his home between Nenana, Alaska, and Santa Barbara, California. Vernie is believed to be survived by Mabel Brown, the baby Vernie was responsible for at the St. Cloud Orphanage.
Vernie is survived by 13 grandchildren: David Joseph Morrow (Hutchinson, Minnesota) Samuel Abraham Morrow and Noah Abner Morrow (both of Minneapolis, Minnesota) Gideon Dan Morrow, James Timothy Feigum, Ole John Feigum (all of Alexandria, Minnesota) Sunshine "Sunny" Mary (Hoff) Hernandez, Christian "Chris" Ruben Hoff, Adelheid "Addy" Rae Hoff, Joseph Judson Hoff, Caroline Susannah Hoff, Shirley Laverne Hoff, (all of Forada, Minnesota) and Alexander James Hoff (Seattle, Washington)
When spring comes, Vernie's ashes will be laid to rest at the grave of her husband, Willard, and her father, Joseph, where her mother's ashes were also laid to rest, in Lake Mary Cemetery, Douglas County, Minnesota.
Galations 6:9 NIV, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Vernie was born on June 17, 1927, in a farm house in rural Pope County, Minnesota to Joseph Brezina and Mary "Marie" (Kuklish) Brezina. The first language Vernie learned was Czech.
Vernie's personality was formed by childhood during the Great Depression. Vernie's parents were unable to care for her when she was quite young, and though she lived for a time in Villard, Minnesota, eventually she was sent to live at the St. Cloud, Minnesota orphanage despite the fact both her parents were still alive.
At about the age of 12, Vernie was entrusted with a baby to care for like a mother, as was the custom at the orphanage. The baby, whose name is Mabel Brown, grew to live a good and productive life and never forgot Vernie's kindness.
Vernie became a skilled seamstress early in life, learning some skills from a little booklet she bought for a nickel. At the age of 15, Vernie was finally allowed to leave the orphanage and live with her father on a farm of approximately 11 acres, near Forada, Minnesota. Her father gave Vernie a red rose bush, as a gift to mark her miraculous return on her 15th birthday. Vernie began to dream of becoming a nurse.
Vernie attended nursing school for a time in the Twin Cities, but was unable to continue for financial reasons. Vernie returned to the farm with her father, where she worked industriously, running the household, farm equipment and helping man the fields. She overcame both disabling rickets and severe hay fever. Although she worked beyond exhaustion, she always maintained a positive, energetic outlook.
Some time around World War II, her father bought Vernie a black Singer brand treadle sewing machine as a birthday present. Vernie used the sewing machine well past the year 2000. Vernie's frugality, which she called "being save-y," was legendary. She could squeeze a nickel until it screamed out a dime. Her work ethic was super human, even late in life.
During World War II, Vernie began donating blood to the Red Cross. Vernie continued donating regularly until she was in her 70s and health issues made her unable to continue. She collected a large number of "gallon pins" and once attended a dinner party held in honor of super blood donors.
In the 1950s beloved auntie Vernie cared for her niece and nephew, Janverne' and Jory, at the farm so her sister, deAnne, could pursue dreams in Alaska. It was around this period of time that Joe Brezina found a wounded bald eagle. Vernie and Joe nursed the eagle, named "Baldy," back to health. Baldy, who could no longer fly, was donated to the Como Zoo in St Paul where he lived for many years.
Vernie was devasted by the loss of her father in 1960 to a heart attack. In 1965, Vernie was working as a waitress in Glenwood, Minnesota, when she met Willard Hoff, a World War II veteran. Willard offered to help fix things on the farm, but soon the couple fell in love. Vernie and Willard were married on June 21, 1965 , in Glenwood, Minnesota, and soon had a son, John.
Early in their marriage, an accumulation of back taxes hung over the little farm near Forada. To save the farm, Vernie and Willard journeyed to Kansas and Oklahoma in a travel trailer, working on harvesting wheat. For a period of time they resided at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while Willard took classes in cooking and industrial arts offered to former service members. A daughter, Mary, was born to the couple while they passed through Pratt, Kansas. These desperate efforts succeeded in paying off the back taxes.
Vernie lived on that farm the rest of her life. She never wanted to leave that farm. A third child, Judd, was born to the couple.
Besides seamstress work, Vernie was skillful in dressing wild game and domestic fowl. For decades, hunters from far and wide sought Vernie's services.
In the 1970s, Vernie started an informal organization she called "Helping Hands," which redistributed clothing out of a garage on the farm. Even when deeply involved in her own economic struggles, Vernie always sought to help others. She was always bringing books to a jail, or creating a special quilt for a single mother, or mending somebody's torn work uniform at a greatly reduced rate. Her good works were endless but except for once being formally recognized for blood donation, her deeds always existed below the radar of public recognition.
She was a devout Christian but did not stick to one church. Vernie was especially fond of churches where food or clothing distribution efforts were underway. She sometimes let downtrodden people live on her farm for a few weeks or months until their luck turned around.
Vernie and Willard, who both experienced difficult times in the 1930s and World War II, were always appalled by how much food modern America wastes and were constantly involved in salvage and redistribution efforts. John, their son, wrote two books under the name "John Hoffman" which focus on the frugal life lessons taught by his parents and lived by his siblings. These books are The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving and Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course.
Publicity associated with the first book helped lead to the passage of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donations Act during the Clinton administration. This law, which contains the save-y wisdom and community-minded spirit of Vernie Hoff, protects stores and restaurants from legal liability when making donations to food banks and soup kitchens.
Vernie's daughter, Mary, became a registered nurse. Vernie was proud and happy that her own unfulfilled nursing dream was taken up by her daughter. When her son, Judd Hoff, undertook an arduous and dangerous canoe journey to duplicate the famed voyage of Eric Sevareid, Vernie was both materially and emotionally supportive of this dream.
Vernie was an endless source of comfort and solace to her veteran husband. Vernie always kept the family together when things were falling apart, one way or another. The farmhouse did not have indoor plumbing until about 10 years into the marriage, and the house was heated solely with wood until approximately 1984, some 19 years into the marriage.
Following the death of her husband in late December of 1988, Vernie continued for three decades in sewing, gardening, dressing wild game, babysitting her own grandchildren and the children of others, and efforts to help the poor, always living on that same little farm near Forada, Minnesota. But all her life Vernie was an amazing dancer, and even when a senior citizen she could be spotted tearing up the dance floor at the Alexandria, Minnesota, VFW with her companion, Clarence Hoppe.
When Vernie was in her early 80s, she decided it was unsafe to continue driving and voluntarily turned in her license, despite a stellar lifetime driving record. This act was prompted only by good citizenship and a feeling that God was guiding her to perform this action, not by any citation or near-miss.
Vernie adored little children and was surrounded by them to the very end of her days as her son, Judd, lived on the little farm with his wife, Trista, and their six children. While Vernie's son, John, served in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Vernie displayed a blue star in the window of her front door and prayed for John's safe return. She survived open-heart surgery in 2012.
Vernie passed away during the terrible winter weather of late December, 2018. Vernie was always adamant that she did not want to be in a nursing home but preferred to live on her beloved farm. Youngest son Judd Hoff made this quality-of-life wish possible by residing on the farm with his family.
Vernie was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Marie, her loving husband of 23 years, Willard Reuben Hoff, her sister, Christina "deAnne" Anastasia Brezina, a twin sister who did not survive birth, infant brother Marvel Joseph Brezina, her twins lost to miscarriage and her former companion Clarence Hoppe.
Vernie is survived by her son, Sergeant John Willard Hoff of Midwest City, Oklahoma, her daughter Maryaquin "Mary" Louise Feigum of Alexandria, Minnesota, (husband Timothy) and son Judd Bradford Hoff of Forada, Minnesota. (wife Trista) Vernie is also survived by her niece, Janverne' Hnilicka of Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as Janverne's children, and by nephew Jory Tremblay who divides his home between Nenana, Alaska, and Santa Barbara, California. Vernie is believed to be survived by Mabel Brown, the baby Vernie was responsible for at the St. Cloud Orphanage.
Vernie is survived by 13 grandchildren: David Joseph Morrow (Hutchinson, Minnesota) Samuel Abraham Morrow and Noah Abner Morrow (both of Minneapolis, Minnesota) Gideon Dan Morrow, James Timothy Feigum, Ole John Feigum (all of Alexandria, Minnesota) Sunshine "Sunny" Mary (Hoff) Hernandez, Christian "Chris" Ruben Hoff, Adelheid "Addy" Rae Hoff, Joseph Judson Hoff, Caroline Susannah Hoff, Shirley Laverne Hoff, (all of Forada, Minnesota) and Alexander James Hoff (Seattle, Washington)
When spring comes, Vernie's ashes will be laid to rest at the grave of her husband, Willard, and her father, Joseph, where her mother's ashes were also laid to rest, in Lake Mary Cemetery, Douglas County, Minnesota.
Galations 6:9 NIV, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
On Friday, December 28, 2018, LaVerne "Vernie" Albina Marie (Brezina) Hoff, a loving grandmother famed for her sewing skills and known for being kind to downtrodden people, passed away at age 91.
Vernie was born on June 17, 1927, in a farm house in rural Pope County, Minnesota to Joseph Brezina and Mary "Marie" (Kuklish) Brezina. The first language Vernie learned was Czech.
Vernie's personality was formed by childhood during the Great Depression. Vernie's parents were unable to care for her when she was quite young, and though she lived for a time in Villard, Minnesota, eventually she was sent to live at the St. Cloud, Minnesota orphanage despite the fact both her parents were still alive.
At about the age of 12, Vernie was entrusted with a baby to care for like a mother, as was the custom at the orphanage. The baby, whose name is Mabel Brown, grew to live a good and productive life and never forgot Vernie's kindness.
Vernie became a skilled seamstress early in life, learning some skills from a little booklet she bought for a nickel. At the age of 15, Vernie was finally allowed to leave the orphanage and live with her father on a farm of approximately 11 acres, near Forada, Minnesota. Her father gave Vernie a red rose bush, as a gift to mark her miraculous return on her 15th birthday. Vernie began to dream of becoming a nurse.
Vernie attended nursing school for a time in the Twin Cities, but was unable to continue for financial reasons. Vernie returned to the farm with her father, where she worked industriously, running the household, farm equipment and helping man the fields. She overcame both disabling rickets and severe hay fever. Although she worked beyond exhaustion, she always maintained a positive, energetic outlook.
Some time around World War II, her father bought Vernie a black Singer brand treadle sewing machine as a birthday present. Vernie used the sewing machine well past the year 2000. Vernie's frugality, which she called "being save-y," was legendary. She could squeeze a nickel until it screamed out a dime. Her work ethic was super human, even late in life.
During World War II, Vernie began donating blood to the Red Cross. Vernie continued donating regularly until she was in her 70s and health issues made her unable to continue. She collected a large number of "gallon pins" and once attended a dinner party held in honor of super blood donors.
In the 1950s beloved auntie Vernie cared for her niece and nephew, Janverne' and Jory, at the farm so her sister, deAnne, could pursue dreams in Alaska. It was around this period of time that Joe Brezina found a wounded bald eagle. Vernie and Joe nursed the eagle, named "Baldy," back to health. Baldy, who could no longer fly, was donated to the Como Zoo in St Paul where he lived for many years.
Vernie was devasted by the loss of her father in 1960 to a heart attack. In 1965, Vernie was working as a waitress in Glenwood, Minnesota, when she met Willard Hoff, a World War II veteran. Willard offered to help fix things on the farm, but soon the couple fell in love. Vernie and Willard were married on June 21, 1965 , in Glenwood, Minnesota, and soon had a son, John.
Early in their marriage, an accumulation of back taxes hung over the little farm near Forada. To save the farm, Vernie and Willard journeyed to Kansas and Oklahoma in a travel trailer, working on harvesting wheat. For a period of time they resided at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while Willard took classes in cooking and industrial arts offered to former service members. A daughter, Mary, was born to the couple while they passed through Pratt, Kansas. These desperate efforts succeeded in paying off the back taxes.
Vernie lived on that farm the rest of her life. She never wanted to leave that farm. A third child, Judd, was born to the couple.
Besides seamstress work, Vernie was skillful in dressing wild game and domestic fowl. For decades, hunters from far and wide sought Vernie's services.
In the 1970s, Vernie started an informal organization she called "Helping Hands," which redistributed clothing out of a garage on the farm. Even when deeply involved in her own economic struggles, Vernie always sought to help others. She was always bringing books to a jail, or creating a special quilt for a single mother, or mending somebody's torn work uniform at a greatly reduced rate. Her good works were endless but except for once being formally recognized for blood donation, her deeds always existed below the radar of public recognition.
She was a devout Christian but did not stick to one church. Vernie was especially fond of churches where food or clothing distribution efforts were underway. She sometimes let downtrodden people live on her farm for a few weeks or months until their luck turned around.
Vernie and Willard, who both experienced difficult times in the 1930s and World War II, were always appalled by how much food modern America wastes and were constantly involved in salvage and redistribution efforts. John, their son, wrote two books under the name "John Hoffman" which focus on the frugal life lessons taught by his parents and lived by his siblings. These books are The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving and Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course.
Publicity associated with the first book helped lead to the passage of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donations Act during the Clinton administration. This law, which contains the save-y wisdom and community-minded spirit of Vernie Hoff, protects stores and restaurants from legal liability when making donations to food banks and soup kitchens.
Vernie's daughter, Mary, became a registered nurse. Vernie was proud and happy that her own unfulfilled nursing dream was taken up by her daughter. When her son, Judd Hoff, undertook an arduous and dangerous canoe journey to duplicate the famed voyage of Eric Sevareid, Vernie was both materially and emotionally supportive of this dream.
Vernie was an endless source of comfort and solace to her veteran husband. Vernie always kept the family together when things were falling apart, one way or another. The farmhouse did not have indoor plumbing until about 10 years into the marriage, and the house was heated solely with wood until approximately 1984, some 19 years into the marriage.
Following the death of her husband in late December of 1988, Vernie continued for three decades in sewing, gardening, dressing wild game, babysitting her own grandchildren and the children of others, and efforts to help the poor, always living on that same little farm near Forada, Minnesota. But all her life Vernie was an amazing dancer, and even when a senior citizen she could be spotted tearing up the dance floor at the Alexandria, Minnesota, VFW with her companion, Clarence Hoppe.
When Vernie was in her early 80s, she decided it was unsafe to continue driving and voluntarily turned in her license, despite a stellar lifetime driving record. This act was prompted only by good citizenship and a feeling that God was guiding her to perform this action, not by any citation or near-miss.
Vernie adored little children and was surrounded by them to the very end of her days as her son, Judd, lived on the little farm with his wife, Trista, and their six children. While Vernie's son, John, served in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Vernie displayed a blue star in the window of her front door and prayed for John's safe return. She survived open-heart surgery in 2012.
Vernie passed away during the terrible winter weather of late December, 2018. Vernie was always adamant that she did not want to be in a nursing home but preferred to live on her beloved farm. Youngest son Judd Hoff made this quality-of-life wish possible by residing on the farm with his family.
Vernie was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Marie, her loving husband of 23 years, Willard Reuben Hoff, her sister, Christina "deAnne" Anastasia Brezina, a twin sister who did not survive birth, infant brother Marvel Joseph Brezina, her twins lost to miscarriage and her former companion Clarence Hoppe.
Vernie is survived by her son, Sergeant John Willard Hoff of Midwest City, Oklahoma, her daughter Maryaquin "Mary" Louise Feigum of Alexandria, Minnesota, (husband Timothy) and son Judd Bradford Hoff of Forada, Minnesota. (wife Trista) Vernie is also survived by her niece, Janverne' Hnilicka of Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as Janverne's children, and by nephew Jory Tremblay who divides his home between Nenana, Alaska, and Santa Barbara, California. Vernie is believed to be survived by Mabel Brown, the baby Vernie was responsible for at the St. Cloud Orphanage.
Vernie is survived by 13 grandchildren: David Joseph Morrow (Hutchinson, Minnesota) Samuel Abraham Morrow and Noah Abner Morrow (both of Minneapolis, Minnesota) Gideon Dan Morrow, James Timothy Feigum, Ole John Feigum (all of Alexandria, Minnesota) Sunshine "Sunny" Mary (Hoff) Hernandez, Christian "Chris" Ruben Hoff, Adelheid "Addy" Rae Hoff, Joseph Judson Hoff, Caroline Susannah Hoff, Shirley Laverne Hoff, (all of Forada, Minnesota) and Alexander James Hoff (Seattle, Washington)
When spring comes, Vernie's ashes will be laid to rest at the grave of her husband, Willard, and her father, Joseph, where her mother's ashes were also laid to rest, in Lake Mary Cemetery, Douglas County, Minnesota.
Galations 6:9 NIV, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Vernie was born on June 17, 1927, in a farm house in rural Pope County, Minnesota to Joseph Brezina and Mary "Marie" (Kuklish) Brezina. The first language Vernie learned was Czech.
Vernie's personality was formed by childhood during the Great Depression. Vernie's parents were unable to care for her when she was quite young, and though she lived for a time in Villard, Minnesota, eventually she was sent to live at the St. Cloud, Minnesota orphanage despite the fact both her parents were still alive.
At about the age of 12, Vernie was entrusted with a baby to care for like a mother, as was the custom at the orphanage. The baby, whose name is Mabel Brown, grew to live a good and productive life and never forgot Vernie's kindness.
Vernie became a skilled seamstress early in life, learning some skills from a little booklet she bought for a nickel. At the age of 15, Vernie was finally allowed to leave the orphanage and live with her father on a farm of approximately 11 acres, near Forada, Minnesota. Her father gave Vernie a red rose bush, as a gift to mark her miraculous return on her 15th birthday. Vernie began to dream of becoming a nurse.
Vernie attended nursing school for a time in the Twin Cities, but was unable to continue for financial reasons. Vernie returned to the farm with her father, where she worked industriously, running the household, farm equipment and helping man the fields. She overcame both disabling rickets and severe hay fever. Although she worked beyond exhaustion, she always maintained a positive, energetic outlook.
Some time around World War II, her father bought Vernie a black Singer brand treadle sewing machine as a birthday present. Vernie used the sewing machine well past the year 2000. Vernie's frugality, which she called "being save-y," was legendary. She could squeeze a nickel until it screamed out a dime. Her work ethic was super human, even late in life.
During World War II, Vernie began donating blood to the Red Cross. Vernie continued donating regularly until she was in her 70s and health issues made her unable to continue. She collected a large number of "gallon pins" and once attended a dinner party held in honor of super blood donors.
In the 1950s beloved auntie Vernie cared for her niece and nephew, Janverne' and Jory, at the farm so her sister, deAnne, could pursue dreams in Alaska. It was around this period of time that Joe Brezina found a wounded bald eagle. Vernie and Joe nursed the eagle, named "Baldy," back to health. Baldy, who could no longer fly, was donated to the Como Zoo in St Paul where he lived for many years.
Vernie was devasted by the loss of her father in 1960 to a heart attack. In 1965, Vernie was working as a waitress in Glenwood, Minnesota, when she met Willard Hoff, a World War II veteran. Willard offered to help fix things on the farm, but soon the couple fell in love. Vernie and Willard were married on June 21, 1965 , in Glenwood, Minnesota, and soon had a son, John.
Early in their marriage, an accumulation of back taxes hung over the little farm near Forada. To save the farm, Vernie and Willard journeyed to Kansas and Oklahoma in a travel trailer, working on harvesting wheat. For a period of time they resided at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while Willard took classes in cooking and industrial arts offered to former service members. A daughter, Mary, was born to the couple while they passed through Pratt, Kansas. These desperate efforts succeeded in paying off the back taxes.
Vernie lived on that farm the rest of her life. She never wanted to leave that farm. A third child, Judd, was born to the couple.
Besides seamstress work, Vernie was skillful in dressing wild game and domestic fowl. For decades, hunters from far and wide sought Vernie's services.
In the 1970s, Vernie started an informal organization she called "Helping Hands," which redistributed clothing out of a garage on the farm. Even when deeply involved in her own economic struggles, Vernie always sought to help others. She was always bringing books to a jail, or creating a special quilt for a single mother, or mending somebody's torn work uniform at a greatly reduced rate. Her good works were endless but except for once being formally recognized for blood donation, her deeds always existed below the radar of public recognition.
She was a devout Christian but did not stick to one church. Vernie was especially fond of churches where food or clothing distribution efforts were underway. She sometimes let downtrodden people live on her farm for a few weeks or months until their luck turned around.
Vernie and Willard, who both experienced difficult times in the 1930s and World War II, were always appalled by how much food modern America wastes and were constantly involved in salvage and redistribution efforts. John, their son, wrote two books under the name "John Hoffman" which focus on the frugal life lessons taught by his parents and lived by his siblings. These books are The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving and Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course.
Publicity associated with the first book helped lead to the passage of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donations Act during the Clinton administration. This law, which contains the save-y wisdom and community-minded spirit of Vernie Hoff, protects stores and restaurants from legal liability when making donations to food banks and soup kitchens.
Vernie's daughter, Mary, became a registered nurse. Vernie was proud and happy that her own unfulfilled nursing dream was taken up by her daughter. When her son, Judd Hoff, undertook an arduous and dangerous canoe journey to duplicate the famed voyage of Eric Sevareid, Vernie was both materially and emotionally supportive of this dream.
Vernie was an endless source of comfort and solace to her veteran husband. Vernie always kept the family together when things were falling apart, one way or another. The farmhouse did not have indoor plumbing until about 10 years into the marriage, and the house was heated solely with wood until approximately 1984, some 19 years into the marriage.
Following the death of her husband in late December of 1988, Vernie continued for three decades in sewing, gardening, dressing wild game, babysitting her own grandchildren and the children of others, and efforts to help the poor, always living on that same little farm near Forada, Minnesota. But all her life Vernie was an amazing dancer, and even when a senior citizen she could be spotted tearing up the dance floor at the Alexandria, Minnesota, VFW with her companion, Clarence Hoppe.
When Vernie was in her early 80s, she decided it was unsafe to continue driving and voluntarily turned in her license, despite a stellar lifetime driving record. This act was prompted only by good citizenship and a feeling that God was guiding her to perform this action, not by any citation or near-miss.
Vernie adored little children and was surrounded by them to the very end of her days as her son, Judd, lived on the little farm with his wife, Trista, and their six children. While Vernie's son, John, served in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, Vernie displayed a blue star in the window of her front door and prayed for John's safe return. She survived open-heart surgery in 2012.
Vernie passed away during the terrible winter weather of late December, 2018. Vernie was always adamant that she did not want to be in a nursing home but preferred to live on her beloved farm. Youngest son Judd Hoff made this quality-of-life wish possible by residing on the farm with his family.
Vernie was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Marie, her loving husband of 23 years, Willard Reuben Hoff, her sister, Christina "deAnne" Anastasia Brezina, a twin sister who did not survive birth, infant brother Marvel Joseph Brezina, her twins lost to miscarriage and her former companion Clarence Hoppe.
Vernie is survived by her son, Sergeant John Willard Hoff of Midwest City, Oklahoma, her daughter Maryaquin "Mary" Louise Feigum of Alexandria, Minnesota, (husband Timothy) and son Judd Bradford Hoff of Forada, Minnesota. (wife Trista) Vernie is also survived by her niece, Janverne' Hnilicka of Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as Janverne's children, and by nephew Jory Tremblay who divides his home between Nenana, Alaska, and Santa Barbara, California. Vernie is believed to be survived by Mabel Brown, the baby Vernie was responsible for at the St. Cloud Orphanage.
Vernie is survived by 13 grandchildren: David Joseph Morrow (Hutchinson, Minnesota) Samuel Abraham Morrow and Noah Abner Morrow (both of Minneapolis, Minnesota) Gideon Dan Morrow, James Timothy Feigum, Ole John Feigum (all of Alexandria, Minnesota) Sunshine "Sunny" Mary (Hoff) Hernandez, Christian "Chris" Ruben Hoff, Adelheid "Addy" Rae Hoff, Joseph Judson Hoff, Caroline Susannah Hoff, Shirley Laverne Hoff, (all of Forada, Minnesota) and Alexander James Hoff (Seattle, Washington)
When spring comes, Vernie's ashes will be laid to rest at the grave of her husband, Willard, and her father, Joseph, where her mother's ashes were also laid to rest, in Lake Mary Cemetery, Douglas County, Minnesota.
Galations 6:9 NIV, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
