Stephen "Steve" Hoffman, b. January 16, 1943, entered eternal life on February 17, 2026. Steve was the beloved husband of Jane (Byrum) Hoffman, with whom he shared 59 years of marriage, the father of Katie and Molly, grandfather of Jack, Teddy, Molly, Murphy, Owen, and Emma, and father-in-law to Tom and Mike. He is survived by his younger brothers, John and Mark, and sister-in-law Zana. He was known to his family as "Ga" and with Jane, aka "Pickle", steadfastly devoted to the well-being of their six grandkids. Steve grew up a Navy brat, making friends and memories at each port of call. Upon meeting Jane, his ship had come in, and they lived happily together in California, Oregon (go Ducks!), Illinois, and Wisconsin. Through daily acts of kindness and generosity, Steve made a lasting impression on each new community. In life, as in his many Winnetka July 4th parades leading the lawn chair brigade, Steve could lead the way or march right beside you. He never judged a person's value by their paycheck, position, or popularity; he'd just as soon lunch with a janitor than a CEO. Steve was an avid and accomplished gardener, turning every home into a botanical marvel. Steve was a life-long learner and teacher. Into his 80s he bought a Spanish language workbook and was schooling his grandkids on marine knots in the last few weeks. His collection of biographies, naval history texts, and WWII books filled his shelves and frequently spilled into conversation. In addition to reading, Steve loved anything on the grill, with brats, burgers, and a bucket list pig roast topping the list. Steve found both joy and purpose in every-day life. He was a Stephen Minister at Kenilworth Union Church where he helped those in grief or distress. Nothing made him happier than taking care of Jane, helping his girls when their kids were toddlers, or getting his hands dirty on innumerable service projects. He loved his family above all, was loved in return unconditionally, and is an example of a faithful servant for all that knew him. We'll miss you, Ga.
The family appreciates your support, and any donations can be directed to https://give.feedingamerica.org/a/donate-in-honor or to the Allison Tobey Smart Memorial at https://kuc.org/give/.
