Rodney (Rod) Hofer
Storyteller · Engineer · Author · World Traveler · History Enthusiast
Rod loves to tell stories—just like his father before him and a host of other relatives. In his childhood community of Freeman, South Dakota, this was simply called “visiting.” When Rod can connect people with the meaningful stories Anabaptist history has to offer, he feels he has done his job well. This passion has inspired him to lead Anabaptist history tours, write a book about Hutterites in Romania, and volunteer at Mennonite information centers.
Rod grew up on a farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse, where a rack of maps and the World Book Encyclopediaserved as his window to the world. Family road trips to major cities and national parks expanded his imagination and introduced him to the wonders of history and nature. His life changed profoundly during his MCC Pax service in Yugoslavia—his first experience with cross-cultural hospitality, language learning, and shared stories. By the end of that time, he led his first Anabaptist and European history tour—albeit for his fiancée and parents.
During his 40-year career as an environmental engineer and into retirement, Rod and his wife Roberta traveled extensively. A highlight was their son’s wedding in Romania, combined with a Hutterite history tour of Transylvania. Though he lost his favorite travel companion in 2022, Rod continues to explore the world. As your tour expert, he hopes you will be inspired by the courage of our Anabaptist ancestors, enjoy the varied cuisines and cultures you’ll encounter, and find these experiences enriching long after you return home.
