Jean Ann Hof

Jean A. Hof Jean Hof, age 91, of Mesa, AZ, passed away peacefully of natural causes February 2, 2018. Family members Vernon "Bud" Hof and Kathy and Randy Cross were at her bedside. Jean was born December 5, 1926 in Ludington, Michigan. She was the daughter of Herbert and Lucille Johnson and sister to Joan (deceased) and Raymond Johnson. She met and married her husband Bud Hof in Ludington, MI, sharing nearly 72 wonderful years together. Jean and Bud were always a team. For those of us that knew them well, they were the "A Team". For more than seven decades, they knew each other's thoughts and dreamt each other's dreams. They traveled the world together in support of Bud's military career, living throughout Asia in Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan as well as Panama. When Bud retired after 28 years of military service, Jean was recognized at Bud's retirement for her unwavering support to Bud and the U.S. Air Force. During Jean's time traveling the world with Bud and family she carved out her own career, enjoying great successes working for the Military Exchange system, the retail stores for all U. S. military personnel. In the many stores around the world where she worked, she was always quickly recognized by supervisors and managers as a "go getter". In Taiwan, Jean started off working a cash register. The store manager quickly recognized he had a "good one", so he asked her to fix a product distribution problem in the warehouse, and ask her to "get it straightened out!" Jean put together a team and they worked long hours over several months to get the warehouse squared away. The manager immediately promoted her and gave her a pay raise. The Commanding Office of the base sent her a letter of commendation thanking her for a job well done and apologizing that current law prevented him from giving her a higher pay raise. She had similar successes everywhere she worked. As always, she took the kudos in stride in her own humble way and kept things moving forward. When Jean and Bud decided to truly retire, they bought a travel trailer and enjoyed road trips throughout the U.S. for many years. They also continued to travel internationally, including a trip to the Philippines to visit Kathy and Randy and numerous cruises throughout the Caribbean. After enjoying the RV life, they "settled" down (their version) living in Texas, Florida, Alabama and finally Arizona. Jean is survived by her husband, Vernon "Bud" Hof, daughters Judy (Johnny) Vipperman of DeFuniak Springs, FL, Kathy (Randy) Cross of Mesa, AZ and son Richard (Charlotte) Hof of Nacogdoches, TX, as well as grandchildren Belinda (James) Sample and Brian (Sharon) Poague and great grandchildren, Jamison (Haley) Sample, Ethan Poague and Evan Poague. She will be greatly missed by all. A private service will be held for the immediate family at Meldrum Mortuary & Crematory on 9 February 2018. Flowers can be sent to Meldrum or donations made to your local animal shelter or ASPCA.