After a lovely Christmas weekend spent celebrating with his family, Heaven gained another angel, Dwaine Dean Hoftiezer, 89, of Miller. He passed away January 2, 2022, at Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller, surrounded by his family.

Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 7, 2022, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller, with Father Paul Josten officiating.  Burial with military honors will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Miller.  Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, January 6, 2022, followed by a 6:30 p.m. rosary and 7:00 p.m. wake service, all at the church.

Dwaine was born August 27, 1932, in Castlewood, S.D. to Beatrice “Bea” (Gifford) and John A. Hoftiezer. Dwaine attended Castlewood High School, graduating in 1950, and was drafted into the Army in January 1953. By June that year, he was aboard the USS Mann on a seventeen-day journey to Okinawa, where he would spend the next 18 months. Dwaine served in the Army for four years, was awarded the Medal of Good Conduct, and came out as a corporal with two stripes.

After returning home, Dwaine joined the traveling circus as a carney. It was during this time that he traveled to Ramona, S.D. and met the love of his life, Joan Rensch. On June 16, 1956, they married in St. William’s Catholic Church in Ramona. They lived in Sioux Falls for a few years, then moved to Miller in 1960 to raise their five children.

Dwaine loved playing cards, board games, dice, and dominos. He also had a great sense of humor and could tell the best stories and jokes. He had an excellent memory and knew just about everyone in Miller, most likely from his years working for Northwestern Bell as a linesman. Dwaine also drove a school bus for Miller for many years.

Dwaine was also an avid fisherman. He loved fishing with his dad and brother as a child, and later took pride in teaching his own family how to fish. Dwaine knew all the best places to fish in South Dakota, but his favorite spots were close to home at Lake Louise and Jones Lake.

Most of all, Dwaine loved Joan. He loved traveling with her, especially their trips to the Black Hills and Green Lake with Joan’s twin sister, Jean, and their families. They drove to California a few times to visit Joan’s family, and they took in many shows and concerts together. And while he may not have admitted it, Dwaine didn’t always catch the biggest fish when he took Joan with him. When his family recently asked what his favorite memory at Christmas time was, Dwaine replied, “Seeing Joan by the Christmas tree.”

Dwaine will be greatly missed by his children: Cheryl (Terry) Gaspar of Colton, Cindy (Doug) Symes of Mitchell, Rick Hoftiezer of Luverne, MN, Theresa Berg of Sioux Falls, and Ronald Sr. (Juli) Hoftiezer of Miller; grandchildren: Holly (Nick) Simon, Austin (Amanda) Gaspar, Aaron (Erica) Gaspar, Amanda (Omar) Symes, Gregory Symes, Rachael Berg, Ronald Jr. (Lindsey) Hoftiezer, and Hiedi Hoftiezer; and great grandchildren: Elliott, Daevani, Knox, and Rilyn Simon; and Everett, Vivienne, and Garrett Gaspar.

Family members who welcomed him into Heaven are his soulmate and wife, Joan; his parents, Bea and John Hoftiezer; his mother- and father-in-law, Marie and Conrad Rensch; his brother and sister-in-law, Lyle Hoftiezer and Margaret Hegstrom; his sister, Fay (died at birth); his daughter-in-law, Lisa Hoftiezer; his son-in-law, Roger Berg; and many beloved cousins and brother- and sisters-in-law.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Dwaine arrangement.

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