Charles “Chuck” Jacob Hoffman, Jr. (Alpha Kappa–Missouri ’47), of Leawood, Kansas, died on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the age of 94 at St. Luke’s Hospice, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Recently, the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation received a gift from his estate, totaling more than $44,000. His gift will provide meaningful scholarships, career-changing internships, and values-based leadership education to KA brothers for years to come. Kappa Alpha Order and the KAOEF appreciate his generosity as a 8-year member of the Crimson & Gold Society and his lasting legacy as a member of The 1865 Trust.
Chuck was born on March 1, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri to Charles and Florence (Brown) Hoffman. He graduated from Central High School in 1946, and from University of Missouri in 1950. During that time he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and a Midshipman in the USNROTC.
According to The Kappa Alpha Journal, Chuck served Alpha Kappa Chapter as social chairman, helping to plan a “most outstanding” Champagne Ball, and Number III.
Additionally, he was an Airman in the Air Force Reserves until 1957, and was one of sixteen KA brothers on board the U.S.S. “Coral Sea” on a European cruise.
Chuck was singing at a picnic when he caught the attention of Ellene Thurman, who he would go on to marry on September 1, 1950. They had three children and were married 69 years until Ellene’s death in 2019.
Mentorship and character building were major themes in Chuck’s life. He spent 75 years in the Scouting program, serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 28, Cubmaster of Pack 3396, Scoutmaster of Troop 83, a Mic-O-Say Chieftain, and receiving the Scouter’s Key and Silver Beaver awards. He was a member of Village Presbyterian Church. Chuck was an inspiration to other Scouts, young and old alike.
Chuck’s passion for Scouting was matched by his entrepreneurial spirit. He had a 32 year career in the trucking business, mostly as president of the Chicago Kansas City Freight Line. He became an institution in the industry, involved in various capacities with American Trucking Association, Missouri Bus and Truck Association and served on the boards of various industry organizations. He received the Transportation Man of the Year in Kansas City in 1970. Later, he started Hoffman Realty and Hoffman Building Management which continued to the present. He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization, and World Business Council.
Chuck shared his passion and skill by mentoring up and coming local entrepreneurs. He served as director, then president of Junior Achievement of Middle America. After a successful business career he became a founding mentor of the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program.
It wasn’t all work, Chuck enjoyed the outdoors and hiking. A perfect day might have been camping by a mountain stream with plenty of hungry trout. He had eclectic taste in music, but especially loved big band music and Glen Miller. He was always on the lookout for tools and gadgets -any kind. He liked to admire them, show them, work with them, modify them, invent them, give them away, and think up new ones. He could spend hours tinkering away in his basement workshop.
Preceding him in death were his wife Ellene, sister Beverly Hoffman, foster brother Warren “Nick” Kennedy, and daughter Susan (David) Harmon. Chuck is survived by sons Steven (Laurie) Hoffman of Charleston, South Carolina and Mark Hoffman of Leawood, Kansas, and four grandchildren, Jake (Amy) Harmon, Angie (Travis) Colvin, Michaela Hoffman and Wyatt Hoffman, and three great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held on March 1, 2024, at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208. In lieu of flowers, in memory contributions can be to the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation.
