Ralph Elfred Hoffman

Ralph Elfred Hoffman, 90, passed on October 21, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri due to natural causes. He was born on February 28, 1936 at home in St. Louis to Mathilda and Oscar Hoffman. Ralph attended CBC High School, graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology with a degree in Printing Management, and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers and Reserves as a Second Lieutenant. In 1963, he married Brenda Lucille Loretta Berger. He owned and operated Typographic Sales Inc., a typesetting and pre-press company, and was active in the Young Presidents Organization and the St. Louis Printing Industry. He volunteered as a softball and soccer coach as well as a Sunday School teacher. He loved animals, enjoyed golf, and was a lifelong philanthropist and student of the world.

Ralph was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. He leaves four children: Julie Gaidis, Elizabeth Who (Fred), Stacey Hoffman (Rob Harper), and Jeffrey Hoffman (Shari Chavez); six grandchildren Wolfgang Gaidis, Isabella Gaidis (Troy Villani), Jack Castiglione, Lily Castiglione, Max Castiglione, and Humboldt Who; step-grandson Jake Harper (JoAnna) and step-great-grandson Crew, and chosen grandchildren Anna Teague and Sydney Vellacott.

Ralph is also survived by brother-in-law Robert Klueter; his nieces and nephews Earl Hoffmann Jr., Randall Hoffmann, Ronald Hoffmann, Russell Hoffmann, Kathy Reinhold, Kandy Price, Keith Klueter, Krystal Barton, Kevin Klueter, Kara Klueter, Kyle Klueter, Terri Martin, Gene Muskopf, Kathi Knight, Robert Berger Jr. and Kimberlie Berger-Gerecke.

He was preceded by his wife of 58 years, Brenda, brother Earl Hoffmann, sister Violet Klueter, sisters-in-law Jean Hoffmann and Marilyn Ladd, and brother-in-law Robert Berger Sr.

If desired, the family requests that you hug someone and tell them you love them, and/or donate to your favorite charity.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.