Bryan Dean Hoffner

Bryan Dean Hoffner (July 30, 1934 - November 22, 2019) was born to Alex and Pauline Hoffner in Greeley, Colorado. He grew up in the Barnesville and Gill areas where he attended school. He repeatedly joked that he was the most popular boy in his class (seeing as there were only three students... and he was the only boy).

He transferred to Greeley Central High School. While there he attended a baseball game where a trio was performing the national anthem. After they sat down in front of him, he joked to a friend that the trio had been “lousy”. One particularly offended member of the group was Dixie Winters. The two later became high school sweethearts and were married their 3rd year of college, followed by 65 happy years.

His hard work eventually took him to Colorado A&M where he became the first member of his family to graduate from college. While in school, he was a member of the Army ROTC and the university’s football team as a tackle. While on the team, he fluctuated from 4th string to starter, depending on how well he was able to keep his smart mouth in check. After attending school “two years socially and two years academically,” he graduated in 1956 with a degree in animal husbandry. He might have had some help from his wife who took several correspondence courses for him.

After graduation, he completed his military service through the Army at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Ft. Lewis, Washington, reaching the rank of 1st lieutenant. He spent those two years improving military operations by directing his commanding officer on the appropriate way to set up camp, establish communications, correct location of artillery and the appropriate placement of the officer’s latrine. Growing up on horseback while shooting a .22, he easily qualified as Distinguished Expert after telling the officer in charge he could throw a rock and hit a target with accuracy. In July of 1956, Bryan and Dixie gave birth to their first child, Lori. After completion of their service, Bryan and Dixie returned to Colorado where they began farming in Ft. Morgan. There, they gave birth to their second child, Bryan Dean.

In 1962, they moved to Galeton where they farmed, raised cattle, and watched their children grow for the next 27 years. Bryan showed that he was an early adopter of new farming techniques, turning a mostly dryland farm into a high producing irrigated acreage. He used a manmade lake to feed a sprinkler, one of the first in Galeton. Bryan also built a feedlot which at its capacity fed 2000 head of cattle. During these years, the family fell on some hard times and were forced to declare bankruptcy, giving up the farm while also losing their son Bryan Dean Jr. to cancer. Bryan and Dixie showed great resilience in their ability to start over on a new farm and continue to take care of their family through it all. In 1990, they moved to Gill where they continued to farm for the next 30 years. The 2019 harvest marked Bryan and Dixie’s 60th year of farming. Being a member of a multigenerational farming family, Bryan experienced many changes from walking behind the horse and plow to owning a tractor with GPS and a hydraulic lift to help him get in the air-conditioned closed cab. He had a passion for the land he worked, which was exceeded only by the love for his family.

From his striped suit and polka dot tie he wore for his senior photo to his many years of dedication to the land and people he cared for, he will be remembered for not only his strong work ethic and compassion but also his orneriness and mischievous smile.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Dixie, his daughter Lori Hoffner and her husband Steve Heinike, four grandchildren: Alex, Brent, Chloe, Drew, one brother Larry Hoffner, and one sister, Paula Smalley. He is preceded in death by his brother, parents, and son.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Allnutt Funeral Service - Macy Chapel 6521 W. 20th St., Greeley, CO 80634 at 1:00 P.M. Private family burial will be held prior to the service.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.