Joan Hoffman

1923 - 2022

Funeral services for Joan J. Hoffman, 98, of Clearwater, will be Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Theresa’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 1, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, in Clearwater, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a wake service at 7 p.m.

Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater is handling the arrangements.

Joan died peacefully and with a smile, Thursday, July 21, 2022, at Arbor Care Center in Neligh.

Condolences may be directed to the family at http://www.snidermemorialfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials may be given to the family of Joan J. Hoffman for future designation or Hospice of St. Croix, Arbor Care Center Neligh and Antelope Memorial Hospital.

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Joan was born to Gaylord and Prudence Albright, Aug. 22, 1923. She attended school and graduated from Page High School, with the Class of 1941, and attended the University of Omaha.

On June 22, 1946, she married her life partner, Omer J. Hoffman, in Colorado. To this union, a daughter, Mary Hollis (Holly) and son, Gregory, were born. Joan spent her life nurturing, loving, reading, writing, talking, provoking, challenging, daydreaming, imagining, writing poetry, writing letters, writing columns and tutoring.

Many knew Joan’s northeast Nebraska perspective through her "Over the Corral Fence" columns, which she wrote for more than 50 years. She was a well-known Nebraska poet. Voice of the Plains, an audio cassette series, was released in 1989. Her chapbook, "Call Me By My Real Name" was published in 1997. Her poetry and essays have been included in the anthologies: "Leaning into the Wind: Women Write from the Heart of the West," "Graining the Mare," "The Logan House Anthology of 21st Century American Poetry," "Times of Sorrow," "Times of Grace," and "The Untidy Season: An Anthology of Nebraska Women Poets." The Nebraska Library Association Mari Sandoz Award was awarded to Joan in 2006. In 2007, "Collection," a gathering of her many past and current poems and verse, was published.

If you were lucky enough to receive a letter from Joan, it ignited a heartfelt response and a friendship was born. Joan was active in the Antelope Arts Council, co-chairperson of the Summer Solstice celebration, lifelong member of St. Theresa parish in Clearwater, active in Catholic women’s groups and a die-hard Democrat.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Hollis (Holly) Troup and Gregory (Mary Jo) Hoffman of Clearwater; six grandchildren, Dimitry (Justine) Troup; Alexandra (Carsten) Vogt all of Germany; Mendie Jo and (Jordan) Welu of Boston, Massachusetts, Patrick and (Cathy) Hoffman of Bozeman, Montana; Nicholas (Brittany) Hoffman of Clearwater; Mara Troup (Matt Ohzourk, significant other) of Chicago; and six great grandchildren.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Omer; sisters, Dorothy, Inez and LaVonne and brothers, Melvin and Sterling.