Van J.K. Hoff

Van Jonathan Kent Hoff, 68, of Fergus Falls, died Thursday, September 3, 2015, at Broen Memorial Home, in Fergus Falls, supported by his family and loving girlfriend.

He was born February 21, 1947, in Fergus Falls, the son of Kenneth and Vivian (Mavis) Hoff. Van was baptized and confirmed at Aastad Lutheran Church and attended school in Aastad and Dane Prairie Townships. He completed a GED from Fergus Falls High School (Class of 1965), while in the Army.

On September 20, 1969, he was married to Mary Jane Erickson and resided most of his life in Fergus Falls. Together, he and Mary Jane had three children: Lanny, Brett and Christopher.

Van was a truck driver for local and national companies for all of this working life. He took great pride in his career and enjoyed seeing the country from behind the windshield of his truck. Van’s hobbies included, riding a motorcycle, target shooting and was famous for his ability to absorb Western movies for hours on end. He delighted in his grandchildren.

Van served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army. He was deployed in Vietnam and was discharged honorably on February 23, 1969, having served three years. Van was justifiably proud of his time as a U.S. Soldier.

Van was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane: his father, Kenneth and his mother, Vivian.

Van is survived by his girlfriend, Paula Cooper, of Fergus Falls; three children, Lanny (DeAnn) Hoff of Minneapolis, Brett (Mike) Helm-Hoff of Eden Prairie and Christopher (Stephanie) Hoff of West Fargo, ND; his grandchildren, Jasper Hoff, Owen Helm-Hoff and Jordyn Hoff; a brother, John (Becky) Hoff of Fargo, ND; and three sisters, Karen Jacobson of Bemidji, Debra (Timothy) Akers of Truman and Jane (David) Fournier of Fergus Falls.

The family prefers that memorials be offered to Lakeland Hospice or Broen Memorial Home, both of which offered Van excellent, kind and compassionate care in his final days.

Visitation: 12:30-1:30 PM on Sunday, September 20, 2015, at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Memorial Service: 1:30 PM on Sunday, September 20, 2015, at the Olson Funeral Home Chapel in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Christopher Eldredge
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com
The family notes that this date would have been Van and Mary Jane’s 46th Wedding Anniversary and requests casual dress. There will be a light lunch served after the service.