Wayne Hofer, age 79, of Huron, passed away peacefully at his home Friday, July 17, 2026.

His life was celebrated at 6:00 PM, Friday, July 24, at Bethesda Church. His service was live-streamed.

Visitation with family present was held from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, Friday, July 24, at Bethesda Church.

Wayne M. Hofer was born July 11, 1947, to Christy and Edna Hofer in Huron, South Dakota. Wayne grew up on a farm near Carpenter, South Dakota. He attended Milford school and later graduated from James Valley Christian High School in 1966. After high school, he graduated from auto body school in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1969, he was a commercial fisherman off the coast of southeast Alaska, on the St. Christopher. He worked as an auto body technician in Huron for 56 years.

On February 5, 1972, he married Jeannie Decker at Huron Mission Church in Huron, South Dakota. Together in 1975, they opened A-1 Auto and Truck Collision Repair in Huron. Wayne had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting many businesses throughout the years including Slim’s Concessions, Jeannie’s Rentals and Wayne’s World Campground. He always stayed close to his farming roots and love for the great outdoors. In 1980’s, he started raising ringneck pheasants to resupply his own personal natural resources at the farm. This grew and grew and in 2015, H-D Ringnecks was formed by Wayne, his brother-in-law, Roger Decker and his son, Mike Hofer, raising now over 20,000 birds per year to help others enjoy pheasant hunting across South Dakota.

Wayne loved the great outdoors and was a Sportsman in the truest sense of the word. He and his brother, LeeAllen Hofer and their families, enjoyed hunting and fishing all over the world, US, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. He was also an avid Trap Shooter, he and his grandson, Nathan shot trap at the National level all over the US for many years. During his travels he made many friends from all over.

Wayne enjoyed vehicles and made them his lively hood. He restored many classic cars, street rods, race cars and helped many many people bring their own back to life.

Wayne was a man of few words, but when he did speak, people listened and many times laughed at his quick wit and wisdom. He was a member and was baptized at Bethesda Church of Huron. He was a great supporter of many organizations, James Valley Christian School (Wayne designed and made the big anchor outside the school), Byron Bible Camp, Bethesda Church, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Pheasants Forever, Huron Trap Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Street Rod Associations, Auto Body Congress, Jan Manolis Family Safe Center, many local kids sporting teams and many others.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife, Jeannie of Huron, three children, Melissa, Jennifer (Tom Light), Mike (Amy) Hofer; four grandchildren, Nathan (Makayla) Hofer, Makayla (Nicholas) Barnes, Lucas (Rijjy) Hofer and Noah Hofer; two great-grandchildren, Hartley Barnes and Stetson Hofer, all of Huron, a sister-in-law, Doris Hofer of Tea, South Dakota, a sister-in law, Roxy Ford of Huron, three brothers-in-law, Roger (Clarice) Decker of Huron, Dick (Jean) Decker of Huron and Rodney Decker of Grove, Oklahoma; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death, by his parents, Christy and Edna Hofer; his brother LeeAllen Hofer; and his sister, Kaye Corcoran.