Jeff "Jeffy" Hoffmeister

WATERLOO — Jeff "Jeffy" Hoffmeister, 64, of Waterloo, passed away Saturday, April 28, 2018, at his home in Waterloo, surrounded by his family.

He was born June 6, 1953, in Indianapolis.

Jeff met the love of his life, Jan Larson, when working as a fire jumper for the United States Forest Service. He married Jan on June 2, 1974, at Toms Place, California, and she survives in Waterloo.

He worked as a K-9 officer for the Waterloo Police Department. He also owned and operated a business in Auburn for several years.

Jeff was an advocate for Power Paws of Scottsdale, Arizona. He enjoyed fishing in Minnesota, building wooden model ships, TVLand, Star Trek and Purdue University and Indiana University sports.

Jeff was an extremely proud father and grandfather. He loved attending the numerous events that they took part in.

Also surviving are three children and their spouses, Jill and Terry Exford of Waterloo, Jon and Datha Hoffmeister of Bloomington, and Jessica and Ben Shoemaker of Washington, D.C.; eight grandchildren, Kellen Exford, Riley Exford, Greer Exford, Kali Hoffmeister, Emerson Hoffmeister, Maddox Hoffmeister, Hugh Shoemaker and Lyra Shoemaker; three brothers and their spouses, Sergei and Lori Traycoff of Indianapolis, Gregor Traycoff of Indianapolis, and Jay and Crystal Hoffmeister of Seymour; two cousins and their spouses, Bobbie and Cathy Kissling of Rocky River, Ohio, and Midge and Bob Greising of Brownsburg; and his service dogs, Kira and Frasier.

He was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Joseph and Cathy Hoffmeister; mother and stepfather, Sara Jane (Copsey) and Phillip Traycoff; daughter, Jenny Hoffmeister; half-brother, Joel Hoffmeister; aunt, Beth Kissling; and a niece, Alex Traycoff.

A celebration of life gathering will be from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 875 S. Wayne St., Waterloo. The family requests that you dress comfortable as that is the way Jeff would have wanted it.

A private committal will take place in Greenlawn Cemetery in Fort Wayne with the Rev. Ralph Diehl officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to www.nationalassistancedogs.org or Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.