Connie Hoffert

Connie Jo Hoffert, 73, of Staples, MN passed away the morning of November 3, 2024, after living with cancer for three years and three months. She was surrounded by her loving husband and six children. 

 Connie was born in Iowa City, Iowa on March 19, 1951, to Forrest and Margaret Bailey. She was their oldest surviving child and only daughter. She attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois where she met her husband, Wayne Hoffert. They were married on August 14th, 1971, in Celina, Ohio.

Connie created a cozy home, raising six children with ingenuity and resourcefulness. She was also a surrogate mother to many others in need of comfort and support. Demonstrating a profound resiliency and ability to endure, Connie lived her life with grit, hope for another quilt or book to finish, and faith in her eternal salvation.

Connie was gifted with a beautiful mezzo soprano voice, a generous heart, a passion for knowledge, and the desire to share God’s message of love. A woman with a pioneering spirit, Connie practiced the traditional skills of sewing, quilting, gardening, baking, and letter writing. As an artist, she utilized her talents to enrich the lives of everyone around her. Lamplighter Community Theatre and Staples-Motley High School Theater benefited from her vision and creativity, as she spent hours sewing elaborate costumes for yearly productions. Connie also provided daycare in her home and later worked as a secretary at Staples-Motley High School. 

Connie is survived by her devoted husband of 53 years, Wayne; her six children, Amy (Chris) Van Norman, Isaac (Michelle) Hoffert, Amanda (David) Rufledt, Bethany (Sheldon) Hoffert, Peter (Lorren) Hoffert, and Jared Hoffert; and her nine precious grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her grandson Henry Rufledt, her parents, and two older brothers, Steven and Michael Bailey. 

In remembrance of Connie’s life and love, please consider donating a book to a Little Free Library in your community.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.