Hogrefe, Mary

HOGREFE, Mary Linda

Age 87 of Beavercreek, passed away peacefully January 14, 2025, in her home surrounded by friends and family. She was born October 14, 1937, in Findlay, Ohio, to Wilbur C. and Florinne (Ewing) Pifer. After graduation from Findlay High School in 1955, she attended Asbury College in Wilmore Kentucky and earned her degree in Elementary Education in 1959. She married Carl F. Hogrefe on July 26, 1959, and they built a life together based on love, devotion, companionship, and partnership and have been by each other's side for over 65 years. While raising their three children, Linda worked as a substitute teacher for Beavercreek Schools, as a bank teller for Gem City Savings and Loan, and as an office administrator for the Environmental Engineering group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She loved being a mother and a grandmother and had an ability to focus on each child as if they were the only child in the universe. She was a great encourager – and was there for all the games, meets, recitals, lessons, concerts, productions, and scouting family camps. She and Carl joined Peace Lutheran Church in 1961, and have been active in the congregation for over 60 years. She was a passionate gardener, a founding member of the Redbud Garden Club, and worked as a Master Gardener Volunteer at Cox Arboretum. She was a member of the Beavercreek Historical Society, the Beavercreek Women's League, and she played violin in the Yellow Springs Strings. She was a founding member of the Peace Pedal Pushers, biking weekly on all the local bike paths for several decades with her good friends. She volunteered with Lutheran Social Services and at a domestic violence shelter in Xenia. She loved traveling and organized family vacations to over 40 states and over 20 countries. Linda is survived by her husband, Carl, her three children, David (Brian Kemp) of Bexley, Ohio, Jeff (Lyn) of St George, Utah, and Sharon Rahe (John) of Centerville, Ohio, and her five grandchildren, Kyle Roberts, Jackson, Tyler, and Will Rahe, and Ryan Kemp. She is also survived by her brother, Steve Pifer (Nancy), brother-in law Ken Hogrefe (Gwen), brother-in-law Howard Hogrefe, and many nieces, nephews, and close friends. The family will receive friends 3:00pm to 6:00pm Friday, February 7, 2025 at the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME-Beavercreek Chapel. Visitation will be held 10:00 am Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Peace Lutheran Church at 3530 Dayton-Xenia Rd.; with Celebration of Life Service to follow at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Linda's memory be made to charities of one's choice. Condolences can be expressed to the family at tobiasfuneralhome.com

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