Karl Hoefs

Karl Hoefs of rural Spring Valley, Minn., passed on to be with his Savior Jesus Christ unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, while in the care of Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital. He fought a tough and courageous battle against Stage 4 lung cancer for over two years, with overwhelming support from friends and family.

Karl was born December 18, 1955, in Winona, Minn., to Richard and Margaret (Oldham) Hoefs. He attended Emanuel Parochial School at SILO, near Lewiston, Minn., where they lived on a farm. The family moved to Grand Meadow, Minn., where he attended Grand Meadow schools and graduated from high school in 1974. He always worked and helped people. His family was very important to him. Work consisted of changing oil in his dad’s semi-trucks. He later shingled, worked at Land O’ Lakes Spring Valley as a dried milk bagger, then dryer operator and acquired his First Class B Boiler Engineer license. He also worked at St. Teresa’s College in Winona and Feed Specialties of Spring Valley. He eventually worked as the head custodian at the Grand Meadow Schools for 25 years.

Karl raised beef cattle on the family farm with his wife, children and mother-in-law. He and his wife and children attended First English Lutheran Church of Spring Valley, where Karl was confirmed. Karl enjoyed family and working, and he also enjoyed the simple things in life; camping in the pasture, sitting around a campfire, riding horseback, his horse Bay Lady May, baseball, football, watching his children and grandgirls grow, celebrating the Birth of Christ at Christmas and decorating a tree to share with family together. All of the above happened when Karl and his girlfriend Deb met at work at L.O.L. SV. They were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale on July 10, 1976. They were married 47 years and four months.

Karl and Deb have three precious adult children: Ryan (girlfriend Amanda Siskow), Bethany, and Riley. Ryan and Amanda live in Ostrander, Minn., Bethany in the Cherry Grove area and Riley lives in Spring Valley where he farms. Ryan has two daughters, Karl and Deb’s grandgirls, Morgan (Ben) Kaster of Spring Valley and Allison of Ostrander. Karl is also survived by his brothers Ken (Ann) of Grand Meadow, Ed (Rosemary) of Hayfield, Minn., and Jim (Sue) of Winona; sisters Barb of Stewartville and her ex-husband Leon of Grand Meadow, Cindy (Joel) of Humboldt, Iowa. Also surviving Karl are brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins and many nieces and nephews.

Karl was preceded in death by his mother Margaret (Oldham) Hoefs and father Richard Hoefs, brother Roger, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

There was so much life lived in such a short amount of time. Karl was a hardworking, precious husband, father, grandfather, friend, it goes on and on.  It’s hard to put down on paper all the lives he touched, but they know. God worked through him. He will be truly missed. That smile, that upbeat attitude. He liked to joke, but was super serious when needed. We want people to know how hard he fought to beat that dreaded disease called cancer. With every beat of his good heart. What a man. Great work ethics. He is so missed. Always remember, God is in control.

A visitation will be held at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. A service for close family and friends will be held at First English Lutheran Church in Spring Valley.