Howard was born March 24, 1937, in Melbourne, the son of Ernest and Rosa (Luthi) Hofer. He graduated from Collins High School in 1954 and attended Iowa State University. On March 12, 1961, he was united in marriage to June Engle at the Collins United Methodist Church. Howard was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Nevada and The Old Duffers Club. Howard served the community on the Collins School Board, the Township Trustees, the church board and the Farmer’s Elevator Company Board. He enjoyed traveling and farming.

Howard is survived by his wife of 57 years, June, of Collins; his daughter, Tracey (Rod) Paris, of Altoona; his son, Mike (Suzanne) Hofer, of Collins; his siblings: Eileen Hamre, of Rochester, MN, Charles Hofer, of Baxter and Bernice Huntrods, of Collins; his grandchildren: Preston (Lindsay) Franklin, Megan (Eric) Boyken, Morgan (Josh) Scholl, Taylor (Joey) Iregui, Bradley Hofer and Ben Hofer; and two great-grandchildren: Ryland Boyken and Logan Franklin.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Monday, June 4 at the Collins United Methodist Church in Collins with a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 5 also at the church with The Reverend Douglas Harding officiating. Burial will follow at Collins Evergreen Cemetery in Collins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Howard Hofer Memorial Fund.

Rasmusson-Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements.