Norman Hoffman Obituary

Norman H. Hoffman, age 92, of Waconia passed away Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at his residence.

Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Community (41 E 1st St.) in Waconia with Father Stan Mader as Celebrant of the Mass. Visitation held Monday, November 11 from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Johnson Funeral Home (141 E 1st St.) in Waconia and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday, at the church. Interment in the church cemetery.

Norman Henry Hoffman was born the second of two sons to John and Anna Hoffman, in the Dogtown Neighborhood of Mandan, North Dakota.

While Norm made it through high school, he was not a great student. He graduated from Mandan High School in 1950. And, after working a few odd jobs, went to work on the railroad with his father. There, he excelled handling scheduling and inventory distribution. But, when he left town on a trip, the railroad gave away his job to a more senior employee. But, as luck you have it, just after that Norm ran into a friend who was headed to Grand Forks to enroll at the University of North Dakota. He suggested that Norm come with. He had nothing better to do, so he hopped in the car, and off they went.

While in school at UND, Norm's instructors discovered that he had an exceptional aptitude in math and science. In 1959, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, becoming the first person in his family to graduate college. And Norm, like anyone of us would have in that situation, immediately left North Dakota, for the sun and surf of Southern California.

In the heat of the Space Race, he began working at an aerospace contractor in Pasadena, California, while also studying for his Master's degree at The University of Southern California. And while he never finished his Master's, he knew enough where other people in his industry were telling him he needed to go out on his own, and go into business for himself.

He, and two partners founded Technical Ordnance in 1964, and moved to a small office in St. Louis Park in 1965. It was also around this same time that be bought a bachelor pad in Eden Prairie, with an indoor pool, and hosted a harmless Christmas party. It was at this Christmas party that a quartet of singers were performing, and among those singers was a Minneapolis schoolteacher named Ann Flugaur. He was smitten.

Later, that same winter, he found himself on a ski trip with the Catholic Alumni Club, where Ann was one of the organizers. During that trip, Norm made sure he danced with Ann. And after that trip, Ann made sure to tell her mother that she had met the man she was going to marry. She was right. Norm knew she was the one, was when he was asked to go on a ski trip with his friend, Pat Monaghan. He called Ann, and she was busy and couldn't go. When Norm told Pat he couldn't go, because Ann couldn't go. Pat asked Norm, "Why don't you ask a different girl?" And he realized, in that moment, that that thought had never occurred to him, and he knew he had to marry her.

Norm and Ann Hoffman were married on December 23, 1967. Over the next 5 years, they had three amazing daughters. Jean Ellen, Martha Jane, and Julia Kaye. Then nine years later, they had a son, Ross Allen.

Back in 1965 he met his other great love. The Minnesota Vikings. Norm has been a season ticket holder since 1966. He has sat in four different home stadiums, he traveled to every Super Bowl, and yelled "DOWN IN FRONT" to too many spectators and beer vendors to mention. From 1966, until he was physically unable to attend regularly, Norm only missed three games. He even scheduled his knee replacement around the home schedule.

Throughout this whole time, Technical Ordnance grew. They designed automated machines to make the devices faster and safer. Machines that are still used today throughout the industry. By 1990, the company had grown to more than 130 employees, in two states. Offices and machining in St. Bonifacius and manufacturing in Clear Lake, South Dakota.

Even after he sold Tek-Ord in 2006, Norm was not one to slow down. He managed properties, cut grass, and puttered around. He was the kind of guy that had to keep busy.

He also put a lot of work into making an impact on the communities that he was in. He served on the board, as well as chairman at Ridgeview Hospital, where he spearheaded the 212 Clinic in Chaska, and led the campaign for the Waconia Ridgeview Hear Center and Emergency room expansion. He donated to UND, establishing the Norm and Ann Hoffman Chair in National Defense and Energetics. He also helped UND gather materials like books, papers, and schematics to create the largest pyrotechnics library in the country. And he spent more than a decade acquiring the different land parcels on Coney Island to give back to the county as a park so that "Any Joe Six-Pack" can enjoy the island for free.

I think it's safe to say that he left his mark on this community and the countless of lives he has changed.

Norman Hoffman died in his home November 5, 2024 at 10:27 a.m. where he was quickly surrounded by the family he loved. And throughout it all, he was never more than a room away from Ann, his loving wife of nearly 56 years. He leaves behind a far-reaching legacy that will echo for generations, for everyone to experience. And he will forever be in our hearts.

Norm was preceded in death by his parents John and Anna Hoffman; brother John "Hutch" Hoffman.

Norm is survived by his loving family: wife Anna; children Jeanne Hoffman (Brian Pitsch) of Minneapolis, Martha Hoffman of Waconia, Julia Hoffman of Minneapolis, Ross (Shara) Hoffman of Orono; grandchildren Meredith Varble, Hannah Varble, Sera Varble, John Varble, Sophia Hoffman, Marita Hoffman, Vincent Hoffman; sister-in-law Diane Hoffman of Hamburg.

Arrangements are with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia, 952-442-2121, www.johnsonfh.com.