John William Hoefler, 92, of Westphalia, Kansas, passed away Thursday morning, February 28, 2019, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola, Kansas.

He was born September 21, 1926, in rural Westphalia, the son of Vincent and Caroline (Stahl) Hoefler. He grew up in the Westphalia area and graduated from Westphalia High School in 1944. On September 9, 1946, he entered the United States Army. He was an MP and served until his honorable discharge on December 23, 1947, when he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.

Following his discharge he returned to Westphalia and on November 12, 1956, he and Joan Nancy Quathamer were married in Chanute, Kansas. This union was blessed with four daughters.

John was a life-long resident of the Westphalia area and a life-long farmer. Besides his farming he was a truck driver for Ludolph Trucking and Nolan Grain and later was employed at the LeRoy Coop in Westphalia.

He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church in Westphalia and St. Teresa Parish Knights of Columbus Council 1052.

His wife, Joan, preceded him in death on February 5, 2019, just 23 days before John's death, following more than 62 years of marriage. He and Joan suffered the loss of a daughter, Bernadette Hoefler, in 2014. He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Vincent and Richard Hoefler, and an infant brother, and by his sister, Anna (Ratliff) Huerter.

He leaves three daughters, Nancy Smith and husband Jackie, Coyville, KS, Esther Fleming and husband Ron, Lexington, KY, and Melinda Lake and husband Chris, Milton, KS; 6 grandchildren, Joshua Smith, Jamin Hess, Elizabeth Tibiletti, Chris Lake, Jr., and Reuben and Emma Fleming; 9 great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl Hoefler of Manhattan, KS; many other relatives and friends.

A Rosary will be recited at 9:00 A.M. Thursday, March 7, 2019, at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Westphalia followed by a time for visiting.

Mass of Christian Burial will at 10:30 A.M. Thursday with burial following in St. Teresa Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be to St Teresa Catholic Church and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.