Nancy Jane Duning Hoff

RICHMOND, Ind. – Nancy Jane Duning Hoff, age 90, of Richmond, Indiana, died Saturday, March 11, 2017, at Friends Fellowship Community. Our beloved mother was born in Richmond, Indiana, on August 24, 1926, to Emma Jean and Louis E. Duning, who operated Duning Optical Co. for over 50 years, the area’s only manufacturing optician. Duning apprenticed under local Charles Jenkins, an important contributor to early motion picture camera technology. Nancy was the wife and sweetheart of Stephen J. Hoff, who was devoted to her. He was a local industrialist, founder of Hoffco, Inc. which employed over 300 at its peak and which together with its other division Comet Industries were internationally known and respected brands of outdoor power equipment and drive train components; he held 103 patents. Nancy was an active member of the Lutheran church, First Friends Meeting, and Tri Kappa Sorority in Richmond. She was a dedicated parent raising her three children, Michael, Michelle, and Stephanie in Richmond. She was known as “Saint Nancy” by all her loving family and friends, always having a smile on her face and a kind word. Nancy was a vital support to husband, Stephen. She would accompany him at the factory on weekends when he was first designing patents and parts. Dad would tease us all that this was his version of a Friday night out. Nancy was always an avid reader and upon her move to Naples, Florida, donated her time by volunteering at the Collier County Library, and in her later years, she was awarded for loyal service upon her retirement from the library. Nancy was President of her Naples Senior Group and spent her spare time gardening, painting, listening to music, and dancing with friends. In 2009, Nancy returned to Richmond to enjoy her residency at Friends Fellowship Community. Survivors include her son, Michael and wife, Jean and grandchildren, Michael, Andrew, and Danielle; daughter, Michelle Hoff Lee and grandchildren, Mackenzie Bradley and Merek Bigelow and great-grandchildren; and daughter, Stephanie Jean Bottine and husband, William Bottine and son, George Teichmann. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen J. Hoff, who died in 1989, and brother, Louis Duning, who died in 1985. Memorial service for Nancy Jane Duning Hoff will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Friends Fellowship Community in the Community Room, 2030 Chester Boulevard, Richmond with Chaplain Sandra Ward-Angell officiating. Public graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2017, at Earlham Cemetery, 1101 National Road West, Richmond. Arrangements are being handled by Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. In lieu of floral tributes the family respectfully urges donations to: Whitewater Valley Land Trust (WVLT), for the “stewardship fund” of the Duning Wood State Nature Preserve, 4910 Shoemaker Road, Centerville, IN 47330, in memory of Nancy Hoff. Her role was crucial in enabling this first state nature preserve in the Whitewater Valley a decade ago. Duning Woods, a 300 acre ravine forest on Airport Road, Centerville, was her father’s hobby retreat after a hard day of lens grinding, etc. Its gift led to the formation of the WVLT organization, now an important influence for conservation of natural areas in our Valley, including now five other dedicated state nature preserves in Wayne County and 2,000 plus woodland acres all preserved in perpetuity. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Nancy Jane Duning Hoff

August 24, 1926 - March 11, 2017