Edith Hofmeister

Edith Lucille Johnson was born April 23, 1917, near Griswold, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, the daughter of Leland Charles and Alta Floy (Mathis) Johnson, and passed away Thursday, July 22, 2010, at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold, Iowa.

She was raised on a farm near Griswold. During her high school years, the family moved to another farm near Lewis. Edith graduated from Lewis High School in 1935. After graduation she took Normal Training, teaching country school for several years.
On January 4, 1948, she married Frank Marker Hofmeister on the Johnson family farm near Lewis. Edith lived on the Hofmeister family farm until 2006, when she moved to the Griswold Care Center.


Edith was a member of the Crescent Club, Neighborhood Circle, and was a 4-H Leader. She was a dedicated member of the Lewis United Congregational Methodist Church. She served as a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years, Sunday School Superintendent, Bible School teacher and was a member of the women's circle groups.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her favorite times were spent at family and holiday dinners. Edith cherished her grandchildren. She loved reading and passed her love on to her children and grandchildren. Family history and traditions were important to her. She wrote letters and sent birthday cards to her family and extended family. She also loved working in the garden and her flower beds. Her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family.

Preceding Edith in death were her husband, Frank Hofmeister; her daughter at birth, Nancy Hofmeister; her parents, Lee and Alta Johnson; and her brother, Marion Johnson.

Edith is survived by her son, John Hofmeister and his wife, JoAnn of rural Lewis; daughters, Jean Lawton and her husband, Ken of rural Lewis, Judy Metzger and her husband, Mike of Des Moines, Iowa, Karen Wilcoxon and her husband, Chuck of rural Atlantic and Donna Green and her husband, Steve of Atlantic; her grandchildren, Jennifer Lawton Brace and her husband, Scott of Littleton, CO, Carrie Lawton Youde and her husband, Steven of Concord, CA, Jessica Lawton Nelson and her husband, Mike of Denver, CO, Matt Lewis and his wife, Carissa of Remsen, IA, Amanda Lewis and Tim Applegate of Council Bluffs, IA, Jason Lewis and his fiancé, Calina Robinson of Ankeny, IA, Jeff Lewis and his wife, Heather of Ankeny, IA, Anna Wilcoxon and Justin Morgan of Austin, TX, Kara Wilcoxon of Iowa City, IA, Bethany Wilcoxon of Des Moines, IA, Andy Green and his wife, Shelly of West Des Moines, IA, and Julie Green of Indianola, IA; her great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kayce Brace, Allyson and Sydney Youde, Kirsten, Draeden and Kahra Lewis, Mahree and Brynlee Lewis, Evan Applegate and Aryana Robinson. Also surviving are her brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Marjorie Johnson of Atlantic, IA; a sister-in-law, Marge Johnson of Atlantic, IA; a brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Carol Johnson of Brazil, South America; as well as other numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., one hour prior to the service, on July 26, 2010, in the Oakwood Cemetery, Lewis, IA.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 26, 2010, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Lunch will be served at the United Congregational Methodist Church in Lewis, IA, following the service.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.