Obituaries
The Rev. Paul Hoffmaster, 94, Fairlawn Lutheran Church's first full-time pastor
He served the church for 26 years and continued his ministry in Florida.
The Rev. Paul D. Hoffmaster wedged a popular Sunday school class between two weekly worship services at .
Hoffmaster, the church’s first full-time pastor, who died Feb. 8 at age 94, often drew as many as 75 people to his class.
Longtime church organist and choir director Gary Pinter credits the large attendance to Hoffmaster’s friendly method of presenting lessons in which he allowed his adult students to ask questions.
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“It was enlightening,” Pinter said. “He’s one of the kindest and most gentle individuals I ever met. And also humble.”
Hoffmaster arrived in Fairlawn as a bachelor more than 50 years ago, Pinter estimated. Within a few years, he won the heart and hand of the church secretary.
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After more than 26 years in Fairlawn, Hoffmaster and his wife Ruth moved to Marco Island, FL, where they continued in ministry work.
“He served as winter assistant at Marco Lutheran for about 10 years, but due to some health problems, gave up that position to me when I began here in the fall of 1997,” said the Rev. Carl Zahrte, who met Hoffmaster in the early 1950s when they were students at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
“He was older than I, having served in the military for several years prior to that. We became reacquainted when I was pastor in Parma and he was at Fairlawn Lutheran.”
Hoffmaster taught a weekday adult Bible class on Thursday mornings at Marco Lutheran for approximately 20 years.
“Pastor Paul and Ruth are held in very high regard at Marco Lutheran Church, where he served as our first winter pastor,” said Marco Pastor Kevin A. Koenig. “He was a man with a strong and caring pastoral heart and presence.”
Hoffmaster also was the founding pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Naples, FL.
He is survived by his wife and his stepdaughter, Patricia Harter.
Calling hours are between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, and from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. services, Saturday, Feb. 12, at Fairlawn Lutheran Church, 3415 W. Market St.
Memorial donations may be made to Marco Lutheran Church, 525 North Collier Blvd., Marco Island, FL 34145; or Faith Lutheran Church, 4150 Goodlette Rd. North, Naples, FL 34103.
Arrangements are by .