John Paul Hofsess

John was born in West New York, NJ and was the eldest son of Emma and George Hofsess. He grew up in Ridgefield, NJ and graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood NJ in 1952. He graduated from New York Trade School in New York City in 1954. He was drafted into the US Army in 1957. He received basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then deployed to Mannheim, Germany for two years. He was part of the American troop’s effort to keep the line between Russian controlled East Germany and West Germany. He enjoyed exploring Europe with his buddies while on leave. He attended the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and was amazed at a Sputnik display in the USSR pavilion. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Private First Class.

Upon his return home, he met his future wife, Elaine, at a church picnic in Pennsylvania. Upon their marriage, they moved to Waldwick ,NJ where they raised their family. They were married for nearly 40 years until her passing. John worked as a tool and die maker until his retirement in 2004. After his official retirement party, he continued to work part time in a local machine shop until 2010. He was proud to be a member of a team of inventors who was granted a patent in 2007.

He then moved to North Carolina and always joked that it took him “one weekend to adjust to the move”. He was a member of the New Apostolic Church of Raleigh and the Veteran’s Choir at Carolina Preserve. He enjoyed attending church, spending time with family and friends, fishing, exploring parks,Carolina barbecue, and working on household projects.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Elaine. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Cvetkovski and husband Boris of Raleigh,NC; son Scott and wife Joanne of Hoboken,NJ; and son Glenn and fiancé Eileen of Redding, CT. He is also survived by seven cherished grandchildren: Laura, James, Bram, Evan, Parker, Landon and Anna.

Services will be private due to Covid. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations made in his honor to Transitions Life Care Hospice 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Arrangements with Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC.