Gerald Edward Hoffmeyer

Jerry Hoffmeyer, a man whose steady presence and dry wit touched the lives of all who knew him, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2024, at the age of 92.

Born to Edith and Glenn Hoffmeyer on January 4, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, Gerald (“Jerry”) was the eldest of six siblings: Martha, Frances, Paul, Donald, and Harriet. Growing up on a small farm just north of the city, Jerry loved riding horses; caring for the pigs, chickens, and other animals; training and releasing homing pigeons; and investigating every possible situation that might lead to a little bit of mischief.

After graduating from high school, Jerry joined the Army. Some of his friends had been drafted to fight in the Korean War and had lost their lives, so Jerry wisely enlisted as a Morse Code Intercept Specialist with the Signal Corps, which would have him stationed in Herzogenaurach, Germany, near Nuremberg. During his military service, he traveled throughout Europe and developed quite a talent for photography.

After returning home and graduating from Lawrence Technological University, Jerry met his match in the very kind, witty, and beautiful Dodi Duda. They married, had a daughter named Darcy, and lived in Birmingham, Michigan, for 45 years. During this time, Jerry built a successful and rewarding career selling automated assembly systems that produced trucks, buses, Corvettes, and appliances. In his spare time, he enjoyed boating, golfing, hunting, relaxing “up north” at the family cottage, and playing with a succession of family poodles.

In 2012, following Dodi’s sudden passing, Jerry moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Arin. There he became the proud grandpa to Holden, in whom he found a partner-in-crime for splitting donuts. In the final 12 years of his life, you could find Jerry sharing his recliner with two cozy cats & one jealous dog at his feet, or maybe sipping a beer in the wooded yard while the foxes darted past and chipmunks grazed his toes. He walked a fine line between skillfully dodging endless “why” questions from his curious grandson, while engaging him enough to ask where the cookies were hidden.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on a future date.

In memory of Jerry, please consider supporting SEE International’s mission to restore sight to people with treatable/preventable vision loss. $25 covers the cost of one surgery, impacting not only the patient’s life, but oftentimes changing their caregiver’s future as well. www.seeintl.org