Klaus W. Hoppe

Klaus Wilhelm Hoppe, 94, of Middle Grove, Missouri, passed away at his home on March 5, 2023.

Klaus Wilhelm Hoppe was born to Albert and Ida Hoppe on October 12, 1928, in Uenze, Germany. He lived with his sister and his family in Perleberg, Germany and was drafted into the German Navy at the age of fifteen in 1943. He escaped from East Germany (which was under Soviet rule) in 1949. He soon after met his beloved Hildegard in Heiligenthal, then West Germany, and they were married in a civil ceremony on September 13,1951, followed by a church wedding on October 5, 1951. Klaus emigrated to the United States that same month, and Hilde followed in April of 1952. Klaus managed a feed mill and he and Hilde lived on a farm in Elgin, Illinois, raising hogs and growing corn on their eighty acres, before buying a farm and moving to Middle Grove, Missouri in 1993.

Klaus was a born raconteur and would delight anyone within earshot with his storytell­ing. He was an avid reader and knowledgeable in geopolitical affairs. Beneath his sometimes-crusty exterior he had a warmth and a wonderful sense of humor, and his love for his family was always evident. He was dearly loved, and he will be missed.

He was preceded in death last year by his loving wife of seventy years, Hildegard.

He is survived by his daughter, Ann Hoppe Petrov, and son, Ralph (Sarah) Hoppe; four grandchildren: Andrew (Allison) Hoppe of Highland Park, Illinois; Krista (Corey) Lawson of Columbia, Illinois; Ethan (Callie) Hoppe of Loveland, Colorado; and Annalie Hoppe of Sear­cy, Arkansas; as well as six great-grandchildren: Dylan and Cameron Hoppe; Kai, Christo­pher, and Brooks Lawson; and Duke Hoppe. He is also survived by his sister, Christa Paasch; sisters-in-laws Ilse (Irving) Krieger, Hermine (Richard) Roßbach, Marie-Louise (Siegfried) Michaelis; Ingrid (Gerhard) Witthöft, Mariechen (Otto) Witthöft, Erika (Adolph) Witthöft, as well as numerous nieces and neph­ews, all residing in Germany.

He also was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Harry (Christa) Paasch, son-in-law Stan (Ann) Petrov; a sister-in-law who died in infancy; brothers-in-law Karl-Heinz, Gerhard, Günter, Otto, and Adolf Witthöft; brothers-in-law Richard Roßbach and Irving Krieg­er; sister-in-law Edda (Günter) Witthöft.

A private family gathering in his honor will be held in April.

Arrangements are under the direction of PATHWAY-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, Missouri 65270 (660) 263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.