Donald Christoffels, age 88, of Luverne, Minnesota, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
Funeral service will be Thursday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., all at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery near Luverne.
Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home.
To view Don’s LifeTribute slideshow or sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Donald John Christoffels was born on July 4, 1936, to Emmett and Marie (De Yong) Christoffels on a farm southeast of Edgerton, Minnesota. He attended Edgerton Christian School through the eighth grade. Growing up, Don was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton and made his profession of faith on May 13, 1956.
He helped on the family farm until he began employment at a car dealership in Pipestone, Minnesota. He was very proud of the 1957 Chevrolet that he purchased there.
While at a roller-skating party, a cute gal by the name of Alvina Hoff asked him to couples skate, and this was the beginning of their happily ever after story. Don and Alvina were married on June 5, 1964, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota. The couple raised their family on a farm near Hardwick, Minnesota, until 1987, when they then moved to Luverne. Don worked at the Luverne Fire Apparatus until 1979. He later worked at Pamida and did custodial work at the United States Postal Office in town.
Don enjoyed fishing, camping, spending time with family, and helping neighbors with spring and fall work and keeping his cars clean. Don and Alvina enjoyed taking bus and cruise tours with friends and enjoyed camping with family. He will be remembered for his quiet demeanor and always being in the know about the weather and where family and friends were living.
On Saturday, January 11, 2024, Don died peacefully at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne at the age of 88 years, six months and seven days.
Don is lovingly survived by his four children, Doran (Jean) Christoffels of Chandler, Minnesota, Darci (Dave) Hampson of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Dean Christoffels of Houston, Texas, and Denise Traxler of Le Center, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, Anthony (Stephanie) Christoffels, Jeremy (Allison) Christoffels, Michael (Hannah) Christoffels, Matt (Sydney) Hampson, Emily Hampson, Makenna (Tyler) Nickerson, Kailey Hampson, Marcus Traxler and Evan Traxler; eight great-grandchildren, Nicholas, David, Emma, Owen, Nathan and Griffin Christoffels, and Hadley and Walker Hampson; two sisters, Luella (Lloyd) Schaap and Carol Groetsma, both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; brother-in-law Marvin Veldkamp of Brandon, South Dakota; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alvina, in November 2023; son-in-law Douglas Traxler; parents, Emmett and Marie; parents-in-law, Gerrit and Minnie Hoff; brother Gerald (Jeanette) Christoffels; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dave Groetsema, Grace (Chris) Van Wyhe, Arthur Hoff, Geraldine (John) Gorter, and Leona Veldkamp.
