Claud Milton Hoffman

Claud Milton Hoffman, 93, passed away peacefully in Mount Vernon, MO, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Claud, son of George Lawrence and Bernice Loree (Downs) Hoffman, was born Oct. 24, 1931, on a farm two miles northwest of El Dorado Springs.  He grew up in a farm environment in Cedar County, attending rural country schools. Claud attended church services with his mother, dad, brother, Ronald, and sister, Wanda, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist church in Pacetown, MO. Claud was converted, baptized and joined the church in February 1945. His dad had passed away in January of 1947 and the family moved to El Dorado Springs in the fall of that year. He graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in May of 1949.

After graduation, Claud left Cedar County to travel, work and see what was beyond the SW Missouri Ozarks. Claud later would often comment “he loved those bus rides, it’s the way to see the USA.” After the Korean war broke out in June 1950, Claud returned to El Dorado Springs and enlisted in the army on Feb. 8, 1951. Claud served with the 40th infantry division, in Korea, from January to December of 1952. He was released from active military service on January 7,1953 after receiving multiple battlefield commendations.

Post military service, Claud found work on federal government land survey crews, working in various U.S. Western states. In May 1955, he flew to the Alaska territory to work on a government survey crew. Claud worked for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Land Management for eight years.  During 1955 Claud enrolled in the Scranton International Correspondence School home study program of survey and mapping and graduated with a Certificate in Surveying and Mapping in 1956.

In June of 1957, Claud, took a year’s leave for educational purposes, and enrolled in Heald’s Engineering College in San Francisco, CA, the city where he met the love of his life, Nola May LaGrange. They were married in the spring of 1958. Claud returned to Alaska on July 1, 1958, and was dispatched to Yakutat, AK, for work. Claud and Nola attended Alaska statehood activities in Juneau on January 3rd, 1959. In May 1960, Claud resigned from the Federal Land Survey Agency and went to work for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, where he worked for the next 21 years.

While living and working in Alaska, Claud published and presented several technical survey and mapping documents. In 1965 Claud was one of the founding fathers of the Alaska Surveying and Mapping Conference, and in 1996 Claud was inducted into the conference’s Alaska Surveyors Hall of Fame.  During those years (1960-1977) Claud obtained professional land surveyor registration in 14 states. In 1977, he was on a three-month special assignment to the Middle East as a cadastral survey expert to work with the Saudi Arabia-United States Commission for Economic Development. In 1978, Claud was actively involved in getting NASA engaged with the Alaska High Altitude Aerial Photography and Mapping Program.

During 1978-79, Claud’s work included resolving federal-state land ownership disputes of Alaska offshore lands, primarily in the Beaufort Sea area. In 1978, he was appointed as the Director of the Division of Technical Services within the Department of Natural Resources. Later, in 1989 and 1990, Claud was to be recognized by “Arquis Who’s Who in the West” in their 22nd edition for his achievements in the fields of science and engineering.

In the early 1980’s, Claud and Nola bought a house in Ramona, CA, where they planned to retire. They traveled back to Alaska multiple times in the 80’s and 90’s, along with visiting other states and countries. Claud continued with his technical survey and mapping activities as well as family ancestry research. July 19, 1996, was to become one of the highlights of Claud’s career. He was selected to be the host for the official cadastral survey monument dedication ceremony in the El Dorado Springs downtown park.

In 1998, Claud and Nola decided to move back to his hometown of El Dorado Springs, where they bought a house on N. Main St. Claud loved working on the old house and the grounds surrounding the house. During the years 1999 through 2003, Claud was appointed, then elected, to the position of Cedar County Surveyor.  His wife, Nola, passed away in their home on May 18, 2005. Claud continued to live in the house until 2014.  In June 2015 Claud relocated back to Ramona, CA, and became a member of the first congregational church of Ramona, until returning to Missouri in June of 2022.

Claud believed that an individual is best remembered for the life lived. He also believed the writings one leaves behind are the footprints of one’s life. Claud leaves many writings, and those footprints are to be found in the numerous libraries, museums and historical societies in Alaska, Missouri, California and Texas. Claud is a life member of the Ramona V.F.W. club, the American Legion, and several historical societies, museums and lodges.

Claud leaves behind his sister, Wanda, and husband, Myron Heistand, their daughter, Rhonda Williams, and family in southwest Missouri; his daughter, Claudia, and husband, Larry Miller of Show Low, AZ; his son, Anthony, and wife, Janice Zilko, of Anchorage, AK; his nephew, Dennis Hoffman, and wife, Cyndi, of Juneau, AK; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many beloved Missouri cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nola; his older brother, Ronald, and his granddaughter, Amber Hoffman.

We bid farewell to a father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. A life well lived. A service will be held for Claud at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Pape Christian Church in El Dorado Springs, with a potluck meal following the service.  His ashes will be scattered by his son Tony in the Chugach Mountains, near Anchorage, AK, where he will again rejoin his wife, Nola.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pape Christian Church or the charity of your choice in Claud’s memory.