James Franklin Hoffman
April 5, 1938 — April 3, 2025
James was born in 1938 to Rudolph and Ada Hoffman of Murray, Iowa. James, known to family and friends as Jim, grew up in Murray, Iowa, learning to farm early, as his father, Rudolph, passed away when Jim was just 12 years old.
Jim graduated a semester early from Murray high school, and attended Iowa State on an agricultural scholarship. He later received Master’s degrees from Iowa State University and Drake University.
Jim began his teaching career in Grand River, Iowa, until he married Marilyn Miller in 1964, and moved to Pleasantville, Iowa, where he was initially the school counselor, then taught various subjects including math, chemistry, vocational agriculture, auto, power, and diesel mechanics, physics, electricity, electronics, computer aided drafting / computer aided machining, construction, and driver’s education at Pleasantville High School until his retirement in 2000. Jim taught all three of his children while at Pleasantville High School. Jim coached the Pleasantville Rifle Team, and filmed the football games. Jim taught Junior High wood working. For the last five years at Pleasantville, Jim also taught at Carlisle High School in the afternoons. In the summers, Jim worked constructing homes. He also taught hunter’s safety courses for over 50 years, for which he received an award.
During his children’s formative years, Jim was active as a deacon and elder in the Pleasantville Church of Christ, where he often played the organ and piano.
As many family and friends can attest, Jim loved wood working – many of us have treasured pieces of artwork, shelves, clocks, mirrors, knife blocks, cutting boards, stools, Kleenex box covers, and much more that Jim made for us over the years.
Jim loved being self-sufficient and instilling that in his children. He loved to farm, garden, hunt, fish, shoot, rebuild cars, butcher his own meat, and so much more. If something was broken, Jim could fix it, but he always preferred to turn that into a teaching moment, and teach you to fix it.
After marrying Nita Garrett in 1997, Jim became active in the Rising Sun Church of Christ in Pleasant Hill where he spoke about his faith, played piano, taught Sunday school, and was active in Bible study.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Ada Hoffman, several aunts and uncles, including his beloved uncle Urban, a daughter in law, Tilly Van Egmond; his in-laws Dean and Freda Garrett.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Nita Garrett Hoffman; his children John (Amy) Hoffman, Daniel Hoffman, and Suzanne Hoffman; his grandsons Zebulon Van Hoffman and Zendan Van Hoffman; sisters in law Rita (John) Kurtz, and Deanna Dahl; nieces and nephews Johnny (Tanner Smith) Kurtz Jr, Valerie (Ben) Moore, Renee Dahl, Denise (Doug) Bromberger, and grand niece and nephews Mason Moore, Zoe Moore, Christopher Bromberger.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Angel Fund at Pleasantville Schools in memory of Jim Hoffman, the Parkinson's Foundation or to "In Him Ministries" through Rising Sun Church of Christ.
Jim graduated a semester early from Murray high school, and attended Iowa State on an agricultural scholarship. He later received Master’s degrees from Iowa State University and Drake University.
Jim began his teaching career in Grand River, Iowa, until he married Marilyn Miller in 1964, and moved to Pleasantville, Iowa, where he was initially the school counselor, then taught various subjects including math, chemistry, vocational agriculture, auto, power, and diesel mechanics, physics, electricity, electronics, computer aided drafting / computer aided machining, construction, and driver’s education at Pleasantville High School until his retirement in 2000. Jim taught all three of his children while at Pleasantville High School. Jim coached the Pleasantville Rifle Team, and filmed the football games. Jim taught Junior High wood working. For the last five years at Pleasantville, Jim also taught at Carlisle High School in the afternoons. In the summers, Jim worked constructing homes. He also taught hunter’s safety courses for over 50 years, for which he received an award.
During his children’s formative years, Jim was active as a deacon and elder in the Pleasantville Church of Christ, where he often played the organ and piano.
As many family and friends can attest, Jim loved wood working – many of us have treasured pieces of artwork, shelves, clocks, mirrors, knife blocks, cutting boards, stools, Kleenex box covers, and much more that Jim made for us over the years.
Jim loved being self-sufficient and instilling that in his children. He loved to farm, garden, hunt, fish, shoot, rebuild cars, butcher his own meat, and so much more. If something was broken, Jim could fix it, but he always preferred to turn that into a teaching moment, and teach you to fix it.
After marrying Nita Garrett in 1997, Jim became active in the Rising Sun Church of Christ in Pleasant Hill where he spoke about his faith, played piano, taught Sunday school, and was active in Bible study.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Ada Hoffman, several aunts and uncles, including his beloved uncle Urban, a daughter in law, Tilly Van Egmond; his in-laws Dean and Freda Garrett.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Nita Garrett Hoffman; his children John (Amy) Hoffman, Daniel Hoffman, and Suzanne Hoffman; his grandsons Zebulon Van Hoffman and Zendan Van Hoffman; sisters in law Rita (John) Kurtz, and Deanna Dahl; nieces and nephews Johnny (Tanner Smith) Kurtz Jr, Valerie (Ben) Moore, Renee Dahl, Denise (Doug) Bromberger, and grand niece and nephews Mason Moore, Zoe Moore, Christopher Bromberger.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Angel Fund at Pleasantville Schools in memory of Jim Hoffman, the Parkinson's Foundation or to "In Him Ministries" through Rising Sun Church of Christ.
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