In deep mourning, we said goodbye to our highly esteemed senior director, Albert Hoferer.

In a moving and dignified memorial service, family members, employees, friends, and companions bid farewell to our senior director, Albert Hoferer, on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

 

The farewell was informal, leaving much room and time for remembrance and grateful reflection. Pastor Ralf Dickerhof spoke about the multi-faceted and eventful life of Albert Hoferer, his willingness to take on responsibility, and his dedication to living with and for others, always ready to lend a hand.

 

Dirk Hoferer reflected on the life of his late father. Albert Hoferer was born on July 4, 1940, in Karlsruhe. His path brought him and his family to Bad Peterstal in 1945 after several stops. As an altar boy, a member of the stenographers' club, and through table tennis, tennis, and the local marching band, he contributed to and engaged with the community. Bad Peterstal became his home.

 

In 1963, Albert Hoferer joined the company TREYER Paletten. Two years earlier, the only son and successor of the company's founder, Hubert Treyer, had tragically passed away. On May 15, 1965, Albert married his boss’s daughter, Inge Treyer. Shortly thereafter, the company’s founder passed away unexpectedly, and Albert and Inge Hoferer took over the leadership of the then-crate manufacturing business.

 

With their daughter Silke and son Dirk, the couple became a family. Six grandchildren and one great-grandchild followed.

 

The marriage of Albert and Inge was not only a personal union but also a partnership that promised a successful future for the company. Although a trained merchant, Albert took responsibility for technical operations, production, and sales. He wasn’t above learning every aspect of the company hands-on. His ambitious plan, which he carried out, was to understand how the company functioned and to step in himself whenever necessary.

 

From the late 1960s, Albert Hoferer had the foresight to specialize production increasingly in pallets, as plastic crates were replacing wooden ones in the beverage industry.

 

Albert Hoferer enjoyed immense respect among his employees and business associates. As a hands-on leader, he knew how to communicate with his team on equal footing and address their concerns.

 

While profit and success were important to him as a businessman, human connections, supporting others, and volunteer work were equally significant.

 

In addition to his responsibilities in the company, Albert served on the Bad Peterstal-Griesbach municipal council and the Pallet Quality Association. He was involved in the founding of the European Pallet Association (EPAL) in 1991 and served on EPAL's Disciplinary Committee from 2002 to 2018.

 

A cause close to Albert Hoferer’s heart, together with his wife Inge, was supporting the Foundation for Children with Cancer. For over 25 years, the Hoferer couple and TREYER Paletten have been reliable supporters of this organization.

 

Despite all his professional and voluntary commitments, family life always held a special place for Albert Hoferer. Family vacations and travels with his beloved wife, Inge, remain cherished memories for his son Dirk and daughter Silke.

 

The death of his wife Inge in December 2019 was a heavy blow for Albert Hoferer. In 2023, he was diagnosed with a serious illness. As long as he was able, he continued to come to the company daily and always had an open ear for the concerns of his employees.

 

Anyone who met Albert was inspired by his experience, honesty, kindness, and unmistakable sense of humor. His legacy will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.