Obituary: Lola Hoffman

Lola Mae Hoffman, age 94, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her daughters at Azria Health in Winterset on February 1, 2026. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, at the Shannon City Community Church, with burial at Harmony Cemetery near Shannon City, Iowa. An open visitation will be held prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to a charity of your choice; an act of kindness; or Shannon City Church building addition. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
Lola Mae (Hastings) Hoffman was born on March 26, 1931, southwest of Kensal, North Dakota, to James and Flora Hastings. She attended Pingree North Dakota Schools through eighth grade and started high school in Jamestown, ND. Her work schedule interrupted her education. After marriage to Dean Hoffman on December 28, 1948, Lola was determined to finish her high school diploma, earning her certificate of completion from the State of Iowa Department of Public Instruction in May 1967. In August 1973, she completed Post Masters Training for 4th class offices. Lola served many rural Iowa post offices as postal officer in charge. She served from June 28th of 1980 in Shannon City and retired as a Postmaster in June of 1991.
Lola and Dean made their home in the Shannon City and Afton areas until they built a home on their farm in 1980. Lola hosted many family meals and was known for her homemade bread and rolls; made from a recipe she learned as a teenager working in a North Dakota restaurant. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren loved her bread and butter and spent many happy times on the farm.
Lola had a passion for the outdoors and the beauty of nature. She loved to travel by motorhome, enjoyed reading, hiking, camping, and fishing in Canada, and cherished her and Dean’s travels across the United States to visit friends and family. Most of all, she treasured coffee visits at their kitchen table on the farm with local friends, neighbors, and relatives.
Lola is survived by her three daughters: Toni Marie Tindle and Marlyn James of Winterset; Grace Lorraine Twilley and William “Bill” Twilley of Foley, Alabama; and Connie Rae and husband Wayne Barnett of Frostproof, Florida. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dean Hoffman, on February 4, 2005, after 56 years of marriage; and her three sisters, Lois Huxford, June Bevins, and Lucille Bredahl.
Lola’s legacy of love, hospitality, adventure, and her love to dance will be cherished by all who knew her.