The funeral service for Tyler Ray Hoff, of Mazeppa, will be 2 p.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Tyler died Friday, June 24, 2011, near Rochester, from a head-on car accident. He was 18 years old.

Tyler was born Aug. 28, 1992, in Albert Lea, to Tracy Nelson and Jason Hoff.

Tyler has lived in Albert Lea, Manly, Iowa, Mason City, Iowa, Emmons, Faribault, Waseca, and presently Mazeppa. He was baptized at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. Tyler had been a member of the Police Explorers. He had gone on Mission Trips with youth groups. He enjoyed playing video games, soccer, football and swimming. Tyler was a very kind hearted person and liked helping disabled people. He also liked traveling. He has been to Chicago, Ill., California, Hawaii and the Wisconsin Dells just to name a few places. Tyler loved his family and friends, especially his little sister, Ariel. Tyler and his mother, Tracy, were each other’s best friends.

Tyler is survived by his mother and dad: Tracy and Michael Nelson of Mezeppa; brother and sister: Ariel and Colton Nelson; father: Jason Hoff of Iowa; grandfather: Harold Brandt (Diane) of Albert Lea; great grandmother: Delores Oakland of Albert Lea; grandparents: Tim and Kandi Nelson, of Glenville; grandparents: David and Becky Hoff of Chicago, Ill.; great grand parents: Lois and Harry Hockenson of Plymouth; aunts and uncles: Tammy and John Bryand of Albert Lea, Andrea and Tony (Hoff) Crosetti of Burnsville, Amelinda and Jeorge (Hoff) Martinez of Chicago, Ill., Isaac and Heather Hoff of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Teresa Sickels of Kansas, Tara Sickels of Minnesota, Pete and Sarah Nelson of Hartland, Ben and Jill Bangert of Alden, many great aunts, uncles and cousins. Tyler was especially close to his cousins Anthony Brandt of Austin, and Jesse Bryand of Albert Lea.

Tyler is preceded in death by his grandmother: Kathleen Sickels, grandfather: Raymond Sickels; great-grandparents: Wilbert and Lucille Pagel and Guynith and Adelbert Hoff.

Even though Tyler was so very young anyone who was privileged to meet him instantly recognized a wisdom beyond his years. He had a huge circle of friends that loved him and his openness and honesty. That circle of friends automatically included anyone he met, no matter what stage in life. He will be missed, and his memory will be cherished by all who were lucky enough to be touched by his life.