Funeral services for Dr. Niles R. Shoff, 84, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Dr. Shoff died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Home.
Dr. Niles Rodell Shoff was born April 17, 1925, to Lloyd and Jessie (Jeffrey) Shoff in Bassett, Neb. Niles grew up in Bassett and graduated from Rock County High School in 1942. He then spent one year at York College in York, Neb., where he was a center on the football team. In 1943 Niles was drafted during WWII. He served in the 3rd Army field artillery. He received citations for the Battle of Alsace-Loraine and the Battle of the Bulge. He was stationed at Bad Orb at the conclusion of the war in the Occupied Forces. He was discharged as Staff Sergeant and returned to the United States in 1946. Once he returned home from the army he completed schooling at York College, then went to the Lincoln College of Chiropractic in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he graduated in 1949. Niles then spent one year as a radiology resident at Lincoln College of Chiropractic. In 1950 he moved to Albert Lea where he started Shoff Chiropractic. On June 8, 1952, he was united in marriage to Oral Larson in Storden. In 1958, Dr. Shoff was named Minnesota Chiropractor of the year by the Minnesota Chiropractic Association. He was elected Mayor of Albert Lea in 1958 where he served 5 terms through January of 1969. Dr. Shoff was appointed and served on the Basic Science Board of Minnesota for 14 years, he was a member of First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, he was instrumental in the implementation of the Peace and Power program at First Lutheran Church, past member of church council, past president of Hillcrest Cemetery Association, a member of the Lions Club where he was a past president of Noon Lions Club and District 5 Governor of Minnesota Lions Club, a member of the Jaycees, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the Eagles, and the Elks. He was active in DFL and served as First District Chair. When his children were in school he was very active in their various activities and related booster clubs. In 2006, Dr. Niles Shoff retired from active practice after 56 years. Niles was a very supportive husband and father. He was very proud of his family and of his sons Michael and Christopher for following in the Chiropractic profession.
Niles is survived by his wife, Oral; children: Greg (Sally) Shoff, Brad Shoff, Susan (Mike) Zmyslony, Cynthia (Richard) Steinberg, Laura (John) Brink, Michael (Ellen) Shoff, David (Laurie) Shoff, and Christopher (Angela) Shoff; grandchildren: Jenna and John Zmyslony; Garrett, Caylin, Kalli, and Camryn Steinberg; Nicholas and Coltan Brink; and Ben and Lauren Shoff; brother, Willis (Geyne) Shoff; sister-in-law Lois Larson; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws: Alf and Min Larson; and brother-in-law, Don Larson.