Alma Jeanne Hoffer

A. Jeanne (Koehler) Hoffer died in Cleveland, Tennessee on October 4, 2020. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, John L. Hoffer. She is survived by their four sons: John Jr., James, Joseph, and Jerome (Jerry) Hoffer. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Jeanne was born in Dalhart, Texas on September 15, 1932 later moving to Tucumcari, New Mexico. After high school, she attended Holy Cross Central School of Nursing in South Bend, Indiana where she received a nursing decree in 1954. While there, she met and soon married John Hoffer. While John was in the Navy, Jeanne followed her husband from port to port during his service upon the USS Forrestal aircraft carrier, including the “Mediterranean Cruise” during the Suez Canal crisis.

Jeanne was athletic excelling at basketball and tennis. In high school, she was a three-state tennis champion. She was a fierce competitor and took pleasure in beating her husband and sons in tennis. Throughout most of her life, wherever the family lived, she became the women’s tennis champion at the local country or tennis club.

After John’s Navy service, she worked at the Saint Joseph Hospital, South Bend, Indiana from 1958-59. As the family followed her husband’s banking career, she continued her nursing career in Los Angeles, Peoria (IL), South Bend, Charleston, (WV) and Fort Wayne (IN). Throughout her life, she continued her education obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from Bradley University (1970), a Master’s of Education from West Virginia College (1975), and a Doctorate of Education from Ball State University (1986). After moving to Akron in 1981, she continued post-graduate studies with Madeline Leninger at Wayne State University in Michigan.  During this time, she worked in various positions as a nursing professional or nursing educator at such institutions as Morris Harvey College, West Virginia Institute of Technology, Saint Francis College, and Indiana-Purdue University. In Akron, she became the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing at the University of Akron. Upon her “retirement” at UA, she taught online at the University of Phoenix.  Jeanne was a member of various professional organizations and the author of various articles in nursing and educational periodicals. She regularly traveled to Europe and Asia attending for her cross cultural nursing studies. She was awarded the Leninger Leadership award, twice. 

Years ago, Jeanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  Her husband was a doting caretaker until Jeanne required professional care.  In 2019, John and Jeanne moved from Akron to Cleveland, Tennessee to be closer to Joe and Jerry. Eventually, John and Jeanne shared the same room at Bradley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center with John leaving her six months prior to her passing.

Jeanne was a devout Catholic and never missed an opportunity for mass and communion.  Jeanne was the life of any party.  She was quick with a smile and then a laugh.  Until Alzheimer’s stole her mind, she was bright, articulate, and insightful. She had been around the world, seen and done a few things.  She instilled in her four boys a sense of balance and worldly perspective that will be greatly missed. The family wishes to thank the hardworking folks at Bradley Healthcare for mom and dad’s care. 

Private services are to be conducted at a later date. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Hoffer family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.