Obituary of August John Hofweber

August J Hofweber passed away quietly in his sleep September 10th, 2017. He was attended by his loving son Jim. He had just reached his 100th year birthday, and celebrated the occasion with the large family reunion. August (Jack, Gus) was born August 19th, 1917. He grew up watching Detroit develop into a great industrial city. He lived through exciting and challenging times. He was inspired by his innovative engineering father, Gus. In 8th grade, he won a city-wide competition and was awarded 8 year scholarship for high school and college to the University of Detroit. The family struggled through the Great Depression, and Jack spent summers on the family farm in Ovid. Jack graduated college in 1935. He interned at General Motors and eventually became a full-time employee. During this time he became interested in aviation and flew light aircraft and earned his pilot's license. During the war he helped build B-24's and other military aircraft. He held a top secret security clearance for his work on US aircraft. In the war years, he met Betty (Elizabeth) Reiter, the love of his life. They married, and had sons Richard (Dick), Jim, and Tom. He was a loving husband and devoted father, and he instilled a love of engineering, aviation, and building in his sons. He resumed his employment at General Motors, and he worked there for 35 years. His employment culminated in his position with GM Overseas, based in Harpenden England. He managed manufacturing operations in the European sector, and regularly traveled to Europe and beyond, managing, reviewing and scouting operations in France, Germany, Pakistan, and Africa. He celebrated his fortieth wedding anniversary with a large party and family reunion in 1983, and his sixtieth anniversary in 2003. He remained mentally acute and sharp until his last week of life. He enjoyed watching baseball with his sons Jim and Tom, and beating the contestants on Wheel of Fortune. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Hofweber, his son Richard C. Hofweber, his brother William P. Hofweber, his sisters Sr. Suzanne Hofweber and Dorothy Gatchell. He is survived by his sister Marian, his son's Jim and Tom, grandchildren Julie Ball, Steve and Jane Hofweber, Anne, William and Patrick Hofweber, 3 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Barbara Hofweber, nephews and nieces Maria Vanden Boom, Linda Turner, Sue Gatchell Brownfield, Betty Marks, John Gatchell, Phil "Billy" Hofweber, Salli Hofweber McCullough, Sue Dewan, Lisa McCambridge, and Jack M. Hofweber. A Memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Owen Parish Church, 6869 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48301, on Monday, September 25, at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Owen Parish for their mission in Santo Domingo.