Joan Hoffman

Joan (Doucet) Hoffman, longtime resident of Springfield, died early Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at St. John Lutheran Home. 

Joan’s funeral will be held in Springfield during the summer, when her life as a beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend will be celebrated. 

Joan had just turned 75 on Valentine’s Day, and in recent weeks all her children and many friends and family had made their way to Springfield to visit, express their love, bid her farewell, and commemorate her “Diamond Birthday.”  She was certainly a “gem” in many respects for those who were fortunate to know, love, and be loved by her. 

Joan graduated from Springfield High School with the Class of 1960. She was an outstanding student, and was a member of an incredibly talented Springfield High School Dance Band, playing upright bass. She was selected to attend American Legion Girls State, a tradition then passed down to her children — each having been selected for Girls or Boys State — a result of her persistent insistence on a well-rounded education. “Joanie” was a lifelong and devoted parish member of St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springfield. She was very active in the church and community over the years, exemplifying service over self, and volunteering for — among other activities important to her family and to her — school functions, summer recreation programs, Scouts, St. Raphael Church and School, the American Legion Auxiliary, St. John’s Circle of Care, and Springfield City Cemetery Association. She instilled a sense of useful purpose in her children, and they all remember serving beside her at lunches and dinners at The Legion and at St. Raphael Church. Joanie also loved to bake, and shared her treats with her co-workers and her friends. She especially enjoyed coffee and conversations with her friends and family — her door and ears were always open, and the coffee was always warm.

Perhaps above all else, Joan was a lifelong lover of family and children. In addition to raising four children of her own, she enthusiastically babysat from her younger years throughout her life, until declining health kept her from spending time with “her” kids. “Grandma Joan” loved seeing her “GrandKids” every day at St. John’s, and drove them, along with their friends, to pre-school and church school during her lunch breaks. Together they built forts, played games, read books, watched fireworks, and raced trains. She attended activities, celebrated successes, and loved her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and all her other “kids,” unconditionally. Joanie loved them for who they were, and constantly emphasized and celebrated their uniqueness, noting that God made everyone different for a reason... and she welcomed new life into this world with a hand-sewn hooded baby towel. 

Her love of people was not limited to just the little ones. After her husband, Clayton (Red), died in 1988, Joan took it upon herself to care for Red’s aging parents for the remainder of their lives, including their residency at St. John’s in Springfield for several years. She also hosted a foreign exchange student, Marco, during the time her youngest son, Curtis, was a high school senior, loving him as her own, mourning his unexpected and traumatizing death after he returned to his native Switzerland, and treating his family as cherished relatives for the rest of her life.

Joan worked at “The Home” for well over 20 years, and knew that she would someday be a resident there. This was a warm and welcome thought for her, as she cared deeply for her co-workers, the residents, and the St. John’s GrandKids, and she knew the level of care she’d receive there, having been a part of caring for others for decades. She also knew that her preference for burned toast and popcorn would be honored. If you worked with her or cared for her while she was in the building, you knew she was in the building, and you most likely knew that she did indeed care for you, even if at times she could be a bit straightforward. 

One of her favorite activities during her working years (and beyond) at St. John’s was the annual pumpkin decorating contest, the results of which she proudly shared with her children and loved ones. She was an avid reader from childhood throughout her life, and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing a good game of Scrabble, “proofreading” the newspaper, watching and playing along with Jeopardy, and following local and state sports teams long after her own children had finished their playing days for the Tigers. 

Joan is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (Woychick) and special friend Nick, and her children, Emily, Nicholas, and Peter; her son, Gregory; her son, Joseph and wife Jeannette, and their sons, Eli and Oliver; and her son, Curtis and wife Brittany, and their sons, Clayton and Hayden. She is also survived by her sisters, Ellen (Krueger) and Rita (Doucet-Beer); several nieces, nephews; and many other relatives and friends, near and far, too numerous to mention, but loved enough to be considered one of her survivors.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Genevieve Doucet; and her brother, Roger Doucet.

Joan’s passing is a loss, and leaves a void in our lives that can never be replaced. However, those who knew and loved Joan well are also smiling a joyful smile, as we all knew that she was ready to leave this earthly life, and that she is now where she wanted to be... at home, finally.

Springfield Advance-Press

13 S. Marshall Avenue PO Box 78 Springfield, MN 56087

507-723-4225