John Elmer Hokanson

Tucson - John Elmer (Jack) Hokanson passed away peacefully on August 24, 2024 at Peppi's House in Tucson, Arizona. Born October 23, 1934 in Eddyville, Illinois to Elmer Eugene Hokanson and Audrey Georgina Stein, John's father was with the C.C.C. and U.S. Forest Service and moved to Arizona in 1944 when he was assigned to the ranger stations at Mormon Lake and Mount Elden. Jack attended Flagstaff High School and Arizona State College (now NAU) where he met his wife of 57 years, Paula Schnebly. He received the B.S. in Education (1958) and the M.A. in Education (1962). Jack and Paula accepted teaching positions in Winslow and had three daughters. In 1963, the family moved to Tucson where he was named Director of Bands and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Flowing Wells High School. He was elected President of the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association and in 2011 received a Ben's Bell upon nomination by his former students for his teaching and example. John later worked as the Assistant Director of Tucson Metropolitan Ministries which influenced his volunteerism through his church, Desert Skies United Methodist. He delivered items weekly to Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, worked the church's flea market, served on the Trustees and Missions/Social Concerns Committees, sang in the church choir, and was a member of the Men's Breakfast. After Paula's passing in 2013, it was through his church that he met his beloved partner of six years, Mary Jo Floyd. In addition to Mary Jo, John is survived by his sister, Darlene Hanson of Cary, North Carolina; brother Colonel Dale Hokanson, U.S. Air Force (Retired) (Sonja) of Spokane, Washington; sister-in-law, Patricia Schnebly Ceballos of Winslow; his three daughters, Melody Richey (Bud) of Memphis; Celeste Lewellen (Tom) of Scottsdale; and Lyric Naquin (Gary) of Scottsdale. He is survived by five grandchildren, McKenna Lewellen (Michele Ward) of Baltimore; Cadienne Naquin Hopkins (Greg) of Washington, DC; Hannah Lewellen of Memphis; Captain Grayson Naquin, U.S. Army (Emmie) of Oahu, Hawaii, and John Price Richey of Memphis. John is also survived by members of the Floyd family who lovingly accepted him as one of their own. A 90th Birthday Celebration/Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 19,1:30p.m. at Desert Skies UMC, 3255 N. Houghton Road in Tucson. Memorial gifts may be made to Desert Skies UMC (desertskiesumc.org), the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen (casamariatucson.org), or Ben's Bells (bensbells.org).