Joan Hoffman

Joan Hoffman, 63 passed away unexpectedly at her home in Iron Mountain on November 15, 2021. She was born to Bernice and Richard Kuklinski Sr. on October 10, 1958 in Milwaukee. Soon, the family moved to a dairy farm in Bevent. She graduated from Rosholt HS in 1976. She then earned an associates degree in accounting. She married Duane Hoffman on December 4, 1982 in Bevent and then moved to Iron Mountain. There they raised three children. Joan spent her free time on music and reading. She was organist at American Martyrs Church in Kingsford for over 30 years. She loved reading. She was never without a book. Through a series of serendipitous job changes that moved her throughout Breitung Twp Schools, she ended up as Media Specialist at Kingsford High School. She spent her summers scouring garage sales for new books and reading nearly all of them before shelving them at the high school. She liked to joke that she was going to be the 80 year old librarian at school because she never wanted to retire. She made the library feel like home to all who entered, offering a listening and supportive ear alongside the books. For many students, she was more than the librarian, she was a friend, confidant, and cheerleader. But her most favorite role in life was mother. She was fiercely proud of the three independent and wonderful children she raised and she never stopped reminding all three in secret that they were her favorite. After her grown children moved away, she enjoyed sharing New Mexico and Puerto Rico with Chris, the towering Redwoods and a volcano with Karen, and getting matching Project Semicolon tattoos on a mother-daughter weekend with Emily. She is preceded in death by her father, Richard Kuklinski, Sr. and father-in-law, Edwin Hoffman. She leaves behind her husband of 38 years, Duane; children, Karen (Matthew) Kidwell of Eureka, CA, Emily (Greg Peters) Hoffman of Green Bay, WI, and Christopher (Monica) Hoffman; her mother, Bernice Kuklinski of Bevent; mother-in-law, Elaine Hoffman of Ladysmith; sister, Carol (Brian) Sorge of Three Lakes; brother, Richard Kuklinski, Jr. of Bevent; and a very large extended family. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, November 21st at Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain and again on Monday, November 22nd from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the funeral home. A funeral mass will follow at 11:00 am on Monday at American Martyrs Catholic Church in Kingsford. Fr. Joseph Gouin will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in Quinnesec Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship will be established and contributions may be made at https://gofund.me/268a96f5 Condolences may be expressed to the family of Joan Hoffman online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Joan Hoffman

October 10, 1958 - November 15, 2021