Servcies for Orlando “Swede” Jerome Hofstad
Thu, 06/22/2023 - 12:12pm
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Orlando “Swede” Jerome Hofstad
June 30, 1931 - June 17, 2023
Mr. Orlando Jerome “Swede” Hofstad, 91, of Mary Esther, Florida, passed away quietly and peacefully on June 17, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. Orlando was born on June 30, 1931, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Upon his graduation from Oklee High School in Oklee, Minnesota in the Spring of 1950, Orlando told his parents Osmund and Marie Hofstad that he had no intention of staying in the frigid area of Northern Minnesota and that he intended to join the United States Air Force. In December 1950, “Swede” as he was often referred to by his fellow Airman because of his larger-than life size joined the United States Air Force just as he said he would do. Swede served in the USAF for over 26 years, during which he volunteered for two combat tours in Vietnam as an Air Commando. He retired from the USAF in December 1976 and became part owner of S&H Lawnmower and eventually became owner of Charlie’s Lawnmower and Small Engine Repair. From there he permanently retired in 1998 and dedicated all of his time to his church at First Baptist Church of Mary Esther and to his wife Lillian “Jean” Eugenia Hofstad.
Orlando met the former Ms. Lillian Eugenia Evans at a church service in Florala, Alabama in 1963 and in December of that year, Swede said he married the most beautiful woman he said had ever seen. Together they were blessed with three children. When Jean was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2004 dad committed himself to the care of his beloved Jean until her death in 2018.
Swede is survived by his three children, Paul Hofstad (Heidi) of Virginia Beach, VA; John O. Hofstad (Rose) of Holt, FL; and Kimberley K. Sikes (Allen) also of Holt, FL. Swede was Papa-blessed with 7 grandchildren, Jacqueline, Buddy, Tyler, Trevor, Holly, Spencer and Haley. He has been double Papa-blessed with 13 great-grandchildren. Swede also leaves behind a brother Leslie (Alice) and two sisters; Carol and Elaine.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Eugenia Hofstad; his father Osmund Hofstad; his mother Marie Hofstad; his brothers, Paul, Stanley, and Raymond; and his sisters Doris and Lois.
Swede has been a good standing member of the First Baptist Church of Mary Esther since 1967. He loved being in his church around the folks who made up the body of the Church. He never missed Sunday Service, Sunday School, Sunday Night Service, Wednesday Night Service or Mondays with the ROMEO’s (Really Old Men Eating Out).
Dadaism's: Things dad would say to make you laugh. When a bug hit the windshield while driving, he would say “I bet he ain’t got the guts to do that again”, or when he was backing his truck up he would say “Back up until it sounds expensive”. When eating and he was full, he’d say, “I’m as full as a tick”, or when he was super-full, “Ooofta, I can’t eat another thing, the only place I could put it is in my pocket”, “Ho-l-l-l-y Hannah” (he told me that once when I told him my weight), “What in the Sam Hill is going on in here”, “When I shake a man’s hand, I better shake a man’s hand”, when he got a steak too rare, “Ho-l-l-l-y Hannah, a good vet could bring that piece of meat back to life”, and my personal favorite to my brother John, “Gee whiz son, did you lower that thing by a rope” after he didn’t flush the toilet.
Dad will be missed by all who knew him. He left an indelible mark on all those he came in contact with, he was larger than life, and like John Wayne once told him when they met while Mr. Wayne was filming The Green Berets, “Hey Mister, you’re one of the few men that can look at me eye to eye… and Mister, you’ve got a man’s handshake”.
Funeral service for Orlando Jerome “Swede” Hofstad will be 10AM Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Evans Funeral Home in Florala, Alabama. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
There will be lunch in his honor at 1PM Saturday June 24, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Mary Esther in Mary Esther Florida. Followed by a Celebration of Life at 2PM.
Please join us in remembering Orlando Jerome “Swede” Hofstad by visiting our Memorial at evansfuneralhomeal.com. Through this site we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.