Jacob Hoffner, 92, lifetime Colorado resident, passed away Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Fort Morgan, CO. He was born July 29, 1923, in Gill, CO to Gottfried and Katherine Hoffner , the youngest of eight children . He graduated from Gill High School, where he loved athletics and excelled in basketball. He worked and farmed with his dad.

On April 27, 1944, he married Irene Brug, before joining the war effort. Jacob served with the 41st Infantry in the US Army during WWII in Japan and the Philippines , and after the occupation of Japan, was transferred to Army Air Corps Communication Service.

He started farming in the Gill area after the war. In 1958, he bought a farm in Wiggins, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Wiggins Community Church, Greeley Moose Lodge, Gill Lions Club, and Fort Morgan Colorado Cattle Organization.

He loved polka music and dancing. Jacob and Irene were part of the Polka Lovers Klub of America Colorado Chapter , a polka dancing organization. Jacob was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fly fishing and going to the mountains.

Survivors include his daughter, Jane Franklin (husband Michael Levy) of Alexandria, VA; his grandchildren, Hannah Levy of New York, NY , and Samuel Levy of Alexandria, VA and daughter-in-law Betty Hoffner of Oakland, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his wife Irene, son Timothy, three brothers, four sisters, and his parents.

Memorial services will be Friday, July 15, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Wiggins Community Church in Wiggins, with military honors and reception to follow. Inurnment services will be on Monday, July 18 at 10:00 am at Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley, Colorado. M emorial gifts may be made to the Wiggins Community Church and the Polka Lovers Klub of America Colorado Chapter .