Lola M. Hoffman

Lola Mae Hoffman, 94, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her daughters Feb. 1, 2026, at Azria Health in Winterset. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Shannon City Community Church, with burial at Harmony Cemetery near Shannon City. An open visitation will be held prior to the service at 1 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to a charity of your choice, an act of kindness or the Shannon City Church building addition. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.

Lola Mae (Hastings) Hoffman was born March 26, 1931, to James and Flora Hastings, southwest of Kensal, North Dakota. She attended Pingree North Dakota Schools through eighth grade and started high school in Jamestown, North Dakota. Her work schedule interrupted her education. After her marriage to Dean Hoffman Dec. 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 28, 1980, in Shannon City and retired as a postmaster in June 1991.

Lola and Dean made their home in the Shannon City and Afton areas until building 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 Feb. 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.