Kenneth Frank Hoffman

HOFFMAN - Kenneth Frank (February 28, 1934-December 24, 2023) died peacefully in the early morning hours on Christmas Eve under Hospice Care at his home in Cheektowaga, NY after a battle with cancer. He was 89. Kenneth was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Teresa, of 65 years; and was the devoted father of Kenneth M. (Jan), Kathryn (Herbert) Nikisch, Maryann (Lew) Reczek, Edward, Margaret (Brian) Donovan and the late David Hoffman; dearest Grandpa of Lauren (David) Vohwinkel, Jordan, Lucille, Sean, William, Colin; great-grampa of Robin. He is also survived by cousins and loving nieces; predeceased by his two sisters and will be fondly remembered as “Mr.Ken” by his kind neighbors Andrew, Courtney and Emery. Kenneth was a U.S. Army Veteran, born to the late Edward and Frances (nee Zagorski) Hoffman and raised in Buffalo’s Kaisertown neighborhood. He attended Casimir Elementary and Buffalo Technical School (Hutch-Tech High School), where he honed his creative talents and technical skills which led him to a career as a draftsman in structural steel. He was the president of Tech’s roller skating club and a member of the bowling team. He was employed by R.S. McManus Steel until they closed, and worked with many steel fabricators, including Bethlehem Steel, retiring from Community Steel in 2000. He proudly worked on the structural steel design of Rich Stadium (Highmark) in Orchard Park, NY in the early 1970s, as well as the Marine Midland Arena (KeyBank Center) and many other projects throughout western New York. Kenneth will be remembered as a man who always put his family first and never gave up a chance to help and share his knowledge with them. He was a man of great patience and kindness. He planned many memorable family vacations, family picnics and adventures and enjoyed traveling to visit his children on both coasts of the country. He was a Boy Scout leader and coached baseball. He attended many dance recitals, soccer and baseball games, school musicals, concerts and parades. Kenneth was a master wood craftsman who never sat idle. He made Christmas and Easter lawn figurines, wooden airplane replicas for his sons and son-in-laws, and train sets for his grandsons. He most recently worked with his son making Buffalo Bills pallets and supervised his grandson-in-law with numerous house remodeling projects. Kenneth loved music, and played the accordion in his younger years. In his later years he enjoyed listening to polkas with the love of his life sitting outside on their swing. You could hear him whistling or humming a tune. His grandsons are thankful for the many handcrafted toys and memories he made for them over the years and for waking up early to make them breakfast when they came for a visit and stayed overnight, for always wanting to hear about their scouting adventures and reminisce about his, and for spending time on their visits playing games, eating chicken wings and especially sharing his trick shots playing pool. He loved to golf with his grandfather at Grover Cleveland Golf Course and loved his Buffalo sports teams. He rarely missed a Sabres or Bills game. He enjoyed baking alongside his wife, and together they made many batches of Polish Chrusciki (angel wings). He baked a perfect sour cream cheesecake, apple pie, and placek (coffee cake). Kenneth and his late wife, Teresa, were founding parishioners of St. Barnabas R.C. Church and parishioners of St. Martha’s Parish in Depew NY. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend Kenneths' Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday February 24, 2024, at 10:00 o'clock at St. Martha's Church10 French Road Depew New York 14043. Full Military Honors will take place at the conclusion of the mass. Interment will take place at a later date.. Donations in memory of Kenneth may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, NY 225 Como Park Boulevard Cheektowaga New York 14227. On the memo portion of your check please write Kenneth F. Hoffman. Or you may donate on-line at www.hospicebuffalo.com. Please share a favorite memory of Kenneth, leave a message of condolence or light a candle here on his tribute page. www.kevinmmasonfuneralhome.com

Kenneth Frank Hoffman

February 28, 1934 - December 24, 2023