Gunther Heinz Hoffmann

Heinz Guenther Hoffmann ("Gunther") passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024 in Portland, Oregon at the age of 82 years old. Born to parents Elisabeth and Wilhelm Hoffmann on September 26, 1942, in a small town east of Leipzig, Germany, Gunther's early years were marked by unimaginable hardship due to World War II. Despite these difficult beginnings, Gunther's faith, resilience, determination, and love of humanity shaped a life filled with generosity, service, and community involvement.

From 1945 to 1957, Gunther's family lived in Romania, Hungary, Austria, and Germany as they searched for a new beginning in the challenging aftermath of the war. In 1957, Gunther's family took a leap of faith as they embarked on a ship to immigrate into Canada and settled in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan. There he completed high school and graduated with a degree in Education from the University of Saskatchewan. In search of the American dream, Gunther and his family moved to Portland, Oregon in May 1964. Gunther loved the Pacific Northwest, which reminded him of his original homeland in Germany, and Portland would become his permanent home for the next 60 years.

Gunther proudly became a US citizen and patriotically served his country for 26 years in the 104th Division of the US Army Reserve (Timberwolves), reaching a final rank of Chief Warrant Officer III. He served as a diplomat in the Consular Corps as the Honorary German Consul of Oregon for over 30 years, supporting the needs of countless people and promoting cultural understanding between the US and Germany. He was an avid community leader and goodwill ambassador for Portland, which included his service with the Portland Royal Rosarians. He celebrated his German heritage and served as President of the German Aid Society while also founding the German Language Saturday School for Children. Professionally, Gunther thrived in the Health Insurance industry retiring from Regence BCBS, where he spent more than 25 successful years as a National Account Executive. This presented him numerous opportunities to personally connect with and support others - the two things that he valued most in his career.

Many people knew and enjoyed Gunther's artistic talents. In his younger years, he oil painted serene landscapes of lakes, mountains, beaches, and sunsets. Later in life, he channeled his creativity into writing poetry about life, family, and nature - always with deep sentiment.

Above all, Gunther was a devoted family man. He was exceptionally proud of his daughters and adored his role as a husband, father, and grandfather. Gunther is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Waltraud ("Trudy") Hoffmann; his daughters Christine (husband Chris, children Jackson, 16, Gavin, 14, and Carmen, 8) and Karin (husband Justin, children Margo, 11, and Daniel, 8); and his sister Brigitte Steele (husband Russ, and sons Andreas and Stefan Oswald).

Gunther's mission in life was driven by dedication, resilience, and love. Most of all, his greatest joy was his family as he beautifully expressed in one of his poems titled FAMILY:

"Most precious gift God giveth thee, is that of your own Family. So cherish it with all your heart, Life goes by fast, too soon we part."

An interment ceremony with US military honors will take place at 2:30 PM on December 10, 2024 at Willamette National Cemetery. A service celebrating Gunther's remarkable life will occur on December 11, 2024 at the German American Society at 2:30 PM (5626 NE Alameda St, Portland, OR). All are welcome to join in honoring his memory.