Duane Leon Hoffman, 95, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, at the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield, Kansas. Born Nov. 4, 1927, at Halstead, Kansas, he was the son of Charles and Estella (Steele) Hoffman.
Duane was raised on a farm in Harvey County, Kansas. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on Jan. 24, 1946. He was assigned to the 704th Engineering Petroleum Distribution Company at Ft. Lewis Washington. While there, he went through training as an auto mechanic, earning him the Military Occupation Specialty 014, Automotive Mechanic 2nd Echelon. The company was awarded the World War II Victory Medal for service during that war time era and assisting in the war effort. Duane also received the “expert” qualification on the M1 Rifle. He was Honorably Discharged on Aug. 13, 1946, and reenlisted on Aug. 14, 1946, as “Regular Army”. He was then assigned to the 892nd Ordnance Heavy Automotive Company as a Private and underwent more training and earned the MOS 965 Automotive Mechanic Wheeled Vehicle, 3rd Echelon. He departed for Korea on Nov. 6, 1946. This was during the Korean cold war era. Unfortunately for him, it was also the coldest part of the year in Korea. Although he was assigned as an automotive mechanic, he spent the majority of his time with a rifle in his hands on patrols and guard duty. During this time, he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal and qualified as Marksman on the MKM, M1 Rifle. He returned stateside on Aug. 26, 1947. He went on terminal leave on Aug. 31, 1947 and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Technician 4th Grade (Sergeant) on Sept. 15, 1947. Duane worked in construction for 25 years and owned and operated the meat locker in Halstead, Kansas. He moved to Coldwater, Kansas, in 1976 and owned and operated the meat locker there, selling it and retiring in 1982. In 2015, he moved to the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield, Kansas.
He is survived by many nephews, nieces and cousins.
Graveside service was at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, at Crown Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, Kansas, with Jeff Blundell presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Kansas Veterans Home, 1220 WWII Memorial Drive, Winfield, KS 67156.
