Good-Bye Colonel Hoffman!!
Your Friends Marcia & Bud
It’s a sad, sad day for Fridley - Our own
Colonel Hoffman is gone
You’ve moved up to Kelliher - On August
23rd, just after dawn
You’ve always been a lightning rod - Never
afraid to speak out
And if the issue was controversial - You’d
be the first one to shout!!
You enlisted as a private - And retired as full
blown Bird
A patriotic Colonel - Who demanded to be heard
You could have been a preacher or a teacher
- Your education is vast
You’ve got a million war stories - Many
that flabbergast!!
You once went door to door - Because something
made you mad
And elected a Republican Mayor - In a town full
of Democrats, that’s not bad
You taught citizenship to immigrants - As only
you could
After fighting in two wars - You explained it
real good!!
You’ve shared dinner with Eisenhower -
And other generals galore
You could discuss any subject - That was all
part of your lore
You even taught a General - How to give a decent
speech
By putting notes in the margin - Oh how you
loved to teach!!
You had two wonderful wives - Both whom you
adore
Hulda & Mabel - Taking care of their Colonel,
was no easy chore
Both of your children were special - Young Bill
and Ann Marie
Though Ann Marie has gone before you - You relate
her stories with glee!!
You’ve a flag pole with a flag - That you’ve
flown at half-mast
Since you lost your dear Mabel - Your love has
been steadfast
And sometimes when national issues - Brings
your ire to a boil
You drop it a little lower - To America, you’ll
always remain loyal!!
Now it’s you and young Bill - Since you
could no longer live alone
For 93 years you have ruled - Like a king on
his throne
But Bill Jr. loves you dearly - So life up there
will be fun
Fortunately, you’re used to change - Being
a military man on the run!!
But poor Fridley ends up the loser - We’ve
lost a great, great soul
But it also ends a era - Driving by and seeing
that flagpole
But one thing I know for certain - And know
there’s a smile on my face
The people of Kelliher will know you - Our Colonel,
they’ll all embrace!!
