David John Hoefs was born July 22, 1937, at the family farm in Beemer, Nebraska, to August and Edna (Renner) Hoefs. David was baptized August 12, 1937, and confirmed April 6, 1952, both at Zion Lutheran Church in Wisner, Nebraska. He attended elementary school at Zion Lutheran School in Wisner and graduated from Wisner High School in 1956.

David and Janelle Lois Means were united in marriage on February 24, 1957 at Zion Lutheran Church. David worked at Farmer’s Elevator in Wisner for a short time but soon started to farm first with his father-in-law, Jim Means, and then on his own on a family farm south of Wisner. He also had dairy livestock in the early years.

David and Janelle were blessed with two children, Brad and Brenda.

David and Janelle purchased the land they’d been farming and continued to farm as well as develop feed lots for feeder cattle and fed for other cattle feeders in the area.

While in the Wisner area, David was active at St. Paul Lutheran Church, serving on boards and singing in the choir. He loved Husker football and watching his grandsons play football. He loved playing cards for many years of his life. He also loved music and their many pet dogs over the years and all of the “grand-dogs” as well.

After selling animal health products for a short time, David and Janelle purchased Seward Bowl and Sparetime Lounge in Seward, Nebraska, in 1980. David owned this business until 2016. During those years he also obtained his CDL license and drove truck for various businesses in the area. David and Janelle celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. David was a member of The Rock Lutheran Church in Seward and the Nebraska Bowling Proprietors Association.

David passed away on May 12, 2017 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 79 years, 9 months, 20 days. He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Virgil and Tom and brother and sister-in-law Danny and Dolores Hoefs and sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and Don Schlueter and niece Vivian Collins. David is survived by his wife Janelle, Seward; his son and daughter-in-law Brad and Donna Hoefs, Elkhorn; his daughter and son-in-law Brenda and Tom Rief, Seward; siblings and spouses Gary and Dorothea Hoefs, Arapahoe, Alice and Bob Lemmom, Orlando and Sarah Nielson, West Point; sisters-in-law, Delores Hoefs, Pender, Kathy Schoch, Bancroft; grandchildren Noah and Meghan Hoefs, Las Vegas, NV, Luke and Kayla Rief, Lincoln, Tait Rief, Seward and Noelle and Marques King, St. Joseph, MO; great-grandchildren Jayden, Ava, Malachi King, Benjamin and Joshua Rief, Zion Hoefs; as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with David.