Ingeborg "Inge" Hofacker

Ingeborg Hofacker, 93, of Battle Creek passed away on Sunday March 24, 2013 at The Reflections where she had lived since January 30 of this year. Inge was born March 23, 1920 in Rüsselsheim am Main, Gross Gerau, Germany, the only child of Johann and Babette (Klein) Schmitt. On February 17, 1940, she married Wilhelm Eich and they had one child, a daughter, Renate, also known as Nadie, born in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. That marriage ended in divorce in 1947. Inge married Lester John Hofacker in Böblingen, Baden Württemberg, Germany on August 27, 1954 and shortly thereafter Lester, who was in the US Army, was transferred to Augusta, GA and later on to Richland, WA. They had one child, also a daughter, Jane born in Richland, WA. They later moved to Long Branch, NJ to where she became a naturalized US citizen in 1958 and then continued on to, once again, live in Germany, where they lived until March 1965. At that time Lester was once again transferred to the United States, this time to Battle Creek, where Inge has lived since.

When she was in Germany, Inge graduated from high school and then learned to become a stenographer. While still in Germany, she did secretarial/ clerical work for the following companies: Adam Opel, AG, an automobile company; IG Farben, a chemical company; and finally the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI). After moving to Battle Creek, Inge was hired as a medical records correspondence clerk at Community Hospital Association from where she retired in 1985.

She and Lester loved to travel and have visited many US states and European countries. They also visited the Canary Islands, Aruba, the Bahamas, Mexico, and always returned to their favorite, Germany. Besides travel, Inge also enjoyed dancing, knitting, doing needlework, and spending time with family.

Inge was preceded in death by Lester on February 12, 2002. She is survived by her daughters Nadie (Jim) Costello and Jane Klein; grandchildren: Heidi (Mark) Hodel, Jamie (Wade) Carlson, and Chandler Klein; and 3 great-granddaughters.

The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:00pm on Thursday March 28, 2013 at Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home where services will take place at 1:00pm with Father Mark Vyverman, St. Joseph Catholic Church, officiating. Interment will take place after the service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Battle Creek. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to The Alzheimer's Association.