Hans M Doerfert

OBITUARY FOR HANS M. DOERFERT Hans M. Doerfert, of Aztec, died January 31, 2009 at age 86. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Doerfert, children and spouses Anne Doerfert and Richard McGoey, Karen Doerfert, Peter and Kit Doerfert. He has four grandchildren, Arthur McGoey, Robert McGoey, Doug Doerfert, and Whitney Doerfert. The newest addition to the family is his three-month old great granddaughter, Penelope Brasfield-McGoey. He is also blessed by the presence of his younger brother and his wife, Gunther and Carolyn Doerfert. Family members from California, Colorado, New York, Tennessee, and Albuquerque, came together to support him at the time of his passing. Hans and his family moved to Aztec in 1957 and he has since been engaged in many community leadership roles. His life work was as an educator. At the time that he and his family moved to Aztec, he was employed by the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) in the capacity of principal of the Aztec BIA Dormitory. Outside of his profession, he devoted his time to family, the Aztec Presbyterian Church, the Aztec Kiwanis Club, Key Club, Kiwanis International Foundation, and various other community organizations which have flourished over the years. He remained an active leader in the church and Kiwanis Club until his health severely limited his physical abilities. In addition to community volunteer activities, Hans enriched his life with many hobbies, some of which included photography, stamp collecting, leather work, wood work, piloting small aircraft, hiking, camping, gardening, and working with youth. One of his talents was his unique ability to design and create helpful gadgets around the house. He excelled at any project that he undertook. Hans was born January 9, 1923 in Germany. He was less than one year old when his parents immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Rochester, NY where he grew up. During World War II, he enlisted in the Air Force and served as an airplane radar mechanic at several bases overseas. He met Dorothy Derry, who would become his wife, at an American Friends Service Committee work camp in Aneth, Utah in 1948. They married in 1949 and last August celebrated their 60th anniversary. In 2007, in honor of the Aztec Kiwanis Club 50th anniversary, the Kiwanis Club established the Hans Doerfert Kiwanis Scholarship. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the scholarship fund which will benefit youth for years to come. Make checks payable to Aztec Kiwanis Club and note on the memo line "Scholarship Fund." Mail to Aztec Kiwanis Club, 205 N. Church Ave., Aztec, NM 87410. Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 E. Ute Street Farmington, New Mexico 87401 (505) 325-8688