George Sterling Hoopman

OREGON-George S. Hoopman, loving husband and father, master electrician, and proud soldier of the United States of America, went peacefully to God Saturday, March 1, at home in Oregon, Wisconsin. He was 96. Born at Cresco, Iowa, July 28, 1917, to Edward and Sophia (Borgan) Hoopman, George was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, graduated from Cresco High School in 1935, and established his own business as an electrician. He married Helen Murtagh, also of Cresco, in 1939, and the couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary at the family home in Oregon January 2. Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, the couple moved from Decorah, Iowa to Baraboo, Wisconsin, and George was employed as an electrician at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant. He entered service with the United States Army in February 1943, qualified as an Expert Rifleman, and was assigned as a Radio Operator with top secret clearance to the 851st Engineer Aviation Battalion, IX Engineer Command, 9th Army Air Force. Hoopman saw service in England, France, Luxemburg and Germany, and was en route via Egypt to reassignment in the Pacific Theater when the Second World War ended. He was honorably discharged from the Army in December 1945 and never felt anyone owed him a dime. His idea of veteran’s benefits was the privilege of being able to return to a free country with no dictators pushing people around. Following World War II, he was employed by various electrical contractors in the Fond du Lac area and in electrical work at the Giddings and Lewis Machine Tool Company, retiring from Leasa Electric Co. in 1982. He served as an instructor at the Moraine Park Technical institute in Fond du Lac during the 1970s. In 2006, the Hoopmans relocated to Dane County to reside with their son and daughter-in-law in Oregon. Special thanks are owed for the exceptional kindness of the staff, volunteer parishioners, and Knights of Columbus of Holy Mother of Consolation Parish in Oregon; the staff of Home Health United; physicians and nurses of Dean-St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison; and especially to Jodi McLaren of BrightStar health services, all of whom were irreplaceable for the care, support, and good cheer they provided during the past three years. George Hoopman was preceded in death by one brother, five sisters, and an infant son. He is survived by his wife Helen, son David, daughter-in-law Katherine Mnuk, niece Helen (Forde) Kerscher of Los Lunas, New Mexico, and family, nephew Gerald (Elaine) Lybbert of Cresco, Iowa, and family, and numerous friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at HOLY MOTHER OF CONSOLATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 651 N. Main Street, Oregon at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 6, 2014, with Father Gary Wankerl officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 10AM until the time of the service at the church. Interment with military honors will take place in Fond du Lac, at a date to be determined. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Oregon Funeral & Cremation Care 1150 Park Street (608)835-3515