Kenneth Hoffman Sr.

Kenneth W. Hoffman, age 81, of Paola, passed away March 17, 2015. Kenneth W. Hoffman was born October 14, 1933 to Eva Lena Taylor Hoffman and Christopher Clayton Hoffman. He was the finest birthday present Lena ever gave Clayt, and she always made their shared birthday a family event. He was the youngest of 6 and was preceded in death by William Orion, Junior Purl, Gerald Clayton, Howard Dewayne and Faye Elene Hoffman Luebber. As a teen, Ken worked for H.H. Carruthers on his farm. Although he intended to teach drafting and shop when he enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, he went to work for Mr. Carruthers at Carruthers Construction Company and became a general contractor. He put his gifts to use as an ethical, principled businessman working in the construction industry for over thirty years. Carruthers Construction became Pemco and when his mentors and friends retired he became one of the co-owners. After retiring from Pemco he worked as a consultant for BRB Construction of Topeka. Of his accomplishments, the reputation he built for honesty and integrity among his employees and the sub-contractors, bonding agents and engineers with whom he worked was one in which he took most satisfaction. He was blessed to meet his wife and companion of sixty years, Patricia Annette Lloyd, at a softball practice in Spring Hill. Because of a connection through the Church of Christ, the families knew of each other and were happy the two began dating. Those 60 years together and the blessing of their two children, Ken Jr. (Penny) and Shari (Niel Henriksen) were Ken"s joy and delight. Together they have 5 grandchildren, Christopher Andrew Hoffman (Jessica), Matthew Paul Hoffman (Diana), Katherine Leigh Hoffman, Jackson Lloyd Henriksen and Clayton James Henriksen, and two great grandchildren, Abigail NavaLeigh Hoffman and Haylee Madison Hoffman. From an early age, Ken loved to hunt. He first went hunting with his mother and carried his gun to and from school to hunt as he walked both ways. He shot trap. He loved to fish and took trips to 3 other countries to enjoy it. He began golfing for business and kept it up because he enjoyed it so much. He loved to take care of the acreage on which he lived, and was happiest working or playing outside. You cannot encapsulate a life well lived in a few short paragraphs. Ken loved people. He loved to serve them and did so through the Kansas Contractors Association, the Kansas Water Resources Board, the USD 368 Endowment Association, Christmas in October, the City Planning Commission, the Middle Creek Township Zoning Board, as a Paola Volunteer Fireman, and numerous other more anonymous means. He loved to entertain, inviting friends, family and neighbors to his home as long as his health allowed. He loved to sing and had a rich, beautiful voice. He often sang with his brothers and sister, and he sang and played guitar with his friends Weldon and Oreta after dinner. As his health declined his inability to sing bothered him. He enjoyed games and fun of all kinds, loved to tease and laugh, and had the capacity to make friends on the spur of the moment and keep them for a lifetime. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Overland Park Church of Christ, Christian Family Services or the USD 368 Endowment Association. To share a memory of Ken or to leave a special condolence message for his family, please click the share memories tab.