Joseph William “Joe” Hoffman, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2024, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.
Mr. Hoffman was born October 5, 1939, in Ottawa to Joseph and Henrietta (Hocking) Hoffman. He married Diane Huss April 28, 1962 at St. Francis Church. Diane passed on June 6, 2001. He married Shirley Husemann January 4, 2008.
Joe was retired from Union Carbide (Bakelite) and the Stepan Company. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Loyal Order of the Moose, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, LaSalle County Genealogy Society and was an honorary retired member of the Teamsters Local #179. He served his country in the US Army from 1963 – 1965 and was proud to have contributed to the development of the Pershing Missile.
Joe was an avid bird watcher and was a “professional” amateur photographer who took amazing photos of his loved ones, travels, and wildlife while his favorite subjects were his adored granddaughters Olivia and Eve. Joe was a self-taught master of all trades; no project was too big. He was very proud of his backyard where he was King of Croquet and he constructed the “Bug House”, the favorite gathering place where lasting memories were made.
Joe was preceded in death by his loving parents Joseph and Henrietta (Hocking) Hoffman and dear first wife Diane, the mother of his three children.
Joe is survived by his devoted wife Shirley, and his children Melissa (Don) Owens of St. Joseph, IL, Erik (Heidi) Hoffman of Ottawa, Nicole (Scott) Tuftie of Ottawa; two grandchildren, Olivia and Eve and a brother, Robert (Pat) Hoffman of Ottawa.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Saturday, July 6th at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Ottawa with Father Nicolas Wilson officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Honors by the Ottawa American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 8:00 to 10:30 AM Saturday at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Don Owens, Scott Tuftie, Bob Hoffman, Lee Bartlett, Olivia Owens and Eve Owens.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or www.parkinson.org . To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.
Joseph was laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments at Oakwood Memorial Park.