Harvey Hofkamp, 1933-2019

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Harvey Hofkamp passed away Friday, March 15, 2019, at St. John’s Woodlands. He was 85.

Harvey Hofkamp

Harvey was born July 14, 1933, in Lake Wilson, the son of Tony and Anna (Lolkus) Hofkamp. He graduated from high school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota; and his specialist degree from Boston University in Boston. Harvey served his country during the Korean conflict in the U.S. Air Force.

On June 15, 1959, he was united in marriage to Jane Tyrrell in Madison, South Dakota.

Harvey had been employed as a counselor with Manning School District in Manning, Iowa, and as a school psychologist with Winnebago County Schools in Forest City, prior to becoming the school psychologist with District 241 in Albert Lea, where he worked until his retirement.

Harvey was a kind and caring person who spent his career being an advocate for children with special needs.

His hobbies and interests were many and varied. He was an amazing woodworker, making things such as intricate train reproductions to a variety of furniture being used today. He loved working with all media. He worked with clay making pottery, painted, made stained glass windows and carved. He was a lover of jazz and a car enthusiast who restored many cars. His favorite was his Corvette. He especially loved taking one of those cars and heading on a road trip with his longtime friend, Merl.

He will be missed by his wife, Jane, married 59 years; children: son, Jay Hofkamp (Kim), of Hartland, Wisconsin, and daughter, Jodie Hofkamp, of Modesto, California; and grandchildren William from Madison, Wisconsin, and Allison from Hartland, Wisconsin.

An informal celebration of life will take place in the chapel at St. John’s Lutheran Community on Fountain Lake from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday with a sharing time around 3 p.m.

He would want to give special mention to his caretakers at the Woodlands. They provided the love and care he needed to make his life comfortable in his last year.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Humane Society of Freeborn County, Youth for Christ/The Rock or the donor’s charity of choice.