Dr. Herman Stoffels dies at 96
Dr. Herman Stoffels slipped into eternity on Dec. 27, 2017 at the Vineyard Hills Convalescent Hospital in Templeton, CA. He had resided at Vineyard since December 2016. Born in Prospect Park, New Jersey on July 5, 1922, he came to southern California at the age of two with his parents and two older brothers. This was his parents’ second major relocation, both having been born in the Netherlands.
After he graduated from Glendale High School, he worked for Lockeed Aircraft in Burbank and attended Los Angeles City College. In 1942 during WWII, he joined the Navy Reserve as an Aviation Metalsmith. Not suited for metal smith work, the Navy assigned him to supply duty with Scouting Squadron 69 based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He served as the squadron Supply Petty Officer until the end of the war. After the war he continued his education, first at UCLA, then at Ratledge Chiropractic College in Los Angeles.
He obtained his state license to practice Chiropractic in 1948. He practiced Chiropractic full time first in Santa Maria and later in Fresno and Porterville. He retired to the Paso Robles area in 1998 but continued to practice Chiropractic part-time in the Paso Robles-Templeton area well into the 21st century. During his 70’s he spent much time abroad at the invitation of medical health educators in both Taiwan and the Peoples Republic of China teaching the non-invasive principles of Chiropractic. He also gave educational seminars throughout the United States. Chiropractic was his life.
While in college Dr. Stoffels met and married Nell Joyce Benson in 1947. They had two sons, Gary and Darrell and two daughters, Joyce Lynne (Morse) and Gloria Jan. They gave him nine grand children, twenty-two great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.
In his 50’s he married Iris Ma and became stepfather to David, Yimi (La Point), Timothy and Mark. As time passed he became step grandfather to fourteen and step great grandfather to eleven children.
Dr. Stoffels outlived most of his closest friends and professional associates. In his latter years he found a close friendship with Donna McKay who would check in on him daily and take him to church and on shopping errands. In 2015 he was invited to participate as a guest for the war veteran’s Honor Flight of the Central Coast of California to Washington D.C. This tribute was one of the high points of his life and a trip that could not have been made without the assistance of Ms. McKay.
The family wants to acknowledge the care given by Vineyard Hills Convalescent and to Ben and Alicia Steele for their assistance to Dr. Stoffels with his financial and personal property affairs.
Dr. Stoffels dearly loved his family and friends. Most important to him was praising the Lord Jesus. He enjoyed greeting his friends at church. Many thanks go out to the members of the Redeemer Baptist Church where Dr. Stoffels was a member for their heartfelt prayers and visitations. His friendly smile and sense of humor endeared him to those who knew him. He will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held at the Redeemer Baptist Church, 1145 Niblick Rd, Paso Robles on January 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
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