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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Ken Hoffman of Chatham, who passed
4away on February 23, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman was born in Springfield to Raymond
6William and Anna Matosich Hoffman on September 26, 1949; he
7attended Glenwood High School, where he played the tuba, the
8stand-up bass, and the electric guitar bass in the concert and
9jazz bands; he married Shelley Jeanne Hamilton in Springfield
10on June 7, 1969; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman was the second of three generations
12of Hoffmans to own and operate Wiley Office Furniture, which
13is a long-standing Springfield business for the provision of
14contract furniture and interior design; he set a priority on
15customer service; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman was passionate about music, both as a
17performer and a listener; he started his paid performing
18career as a bass guitarist in the Rubber Band, where he played
19at dances, bowling alleys, and Pisani's Beer Garden; he later
20belonged to the bands Strange Brew, Wrinkle, and the
21well-known Still Crazy; he started playing acoustic guitar
22with friends in the band W8 4 It, and they performed in

 

 

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1backyards, on back porches, and in the family rooms of devoted
2fans; he purchased a Hofner violin style bass guitar in 1967;
3he was a devoted Paul McCartney fan and saw him in concert six
4times; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman was committed to his family, friends,
6and community; he was a part of the founding committees for the
7Chatham Jaycee Sweet Corn Festival and Springfield First
8Night; he was actively involved in the United Way and
9co-chaired an annual fund drive with his wife; he served on the
10board of the St. John's Hospital Foundation for several years;
11he was a past president of the Sangamo Club and past commodore
12of the Island Bay Yacht Club; he was a member of St. Joseph the
13Worker Catholic Church in Chatham, where he loved to share
14kitchen duties for the annual pancake and sausage breakfast
15and mostaccioli dinner; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman loved skiing, scuba diving, and
17hiking in the mountains and the desert; he enjoyed spending
18time in his pontoon boat on Lake Springfield with his trusty
19Chihuahua by his side; he was passionate about cars,
20especially his 1958 MGA and 1974 1/2 MGB, and he was always
21thrilled to receive a $5 award for "Best in Class" at the many
22car shows he attended; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman was known for being meticulous in

 

 

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1dress and for his architectural handwriting; he was a loyal
2friend, a good and kind man, and always gracious to all; he was
3funny and enjoyed teasing and always had a ready giggle; he
4liked to dance but was always a half beat off; he had a soft
5and open heart, believing in the best of everything and
6everyone; he will be missed by all who knew him; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman was preceded in death by his parents;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ken Hoffman is survived by his wife, Shelley; his
10son, Zachary (Hana) Hoffman; his grandchildren, Nick Hoffman
11and Alicia Hoffman; his brother, John (Susie) Hoffman; his
12sisters-in-law, Teresa (Mark) Pointer and Allison (Terry)
13Moore; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Ken Hoffman and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
17friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Ken Hoffman as an expression of our
20deepest sympathy.