Nancy Jo Hoffmann

Nancy Jo Vandevender Gilmore Hoffmann of Montgomery, AL passed away in her home on July 12, 2022. She was born May 1, 1953, in Lincoln, IL to the late Mildred Hazel Jelken Eberle Vandevender and Wilford Herschel Vandevender. She was loved by her family and spent her early childhood being spoiled by her two older sisters in Mt. Pulaski, IL. She moved to Champaign, IL when 8 years old where she was soon replaced as the baby of the family by another sister who loved her dearly. She lived in Champaign into young adulthood, having graduated from Centennial High School. Nancy was a gregarious, loving, and outgoing girl who really enjoyed talking – as many a teacher would agree. She was a tomboy who didn’t worry about fitting into what others thought she should be and was a good friend to many. She married Andrew Gilmore January 31, 1970, and they were blessed with two children, William Scott Gilmore, and Jennifer Michelle Gilmore French.

After 7 years of marriage, they divorced December 16, 1977. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Kenneth Robert Hoffmann, while working as a waitress. They married in Highland, IL June 10, 1978, and were married for 44 years. They were blessed with two children Edward Robert Hoffmann and Erica René Hoffmann. Additionally, Nancy was blessed with another daughter Tammy Lynn Hoffmann Welsh from Ken’s first marriage.

Nancy was a lifelong caregiver. She worked as a certified nurses assistant for several years in a nursing home prior to herself becoming a nurse. She graduated from Belleville Area College in May 1991. As a nurse, she worked in many different settings including nursing homes, hospitals, doctor’s offices, prisons, and hospice just before she retired.

Nancy loved all sorts of animals but proclaimed herself to be the crazy cat lady. Since childhood, Nancy was always surrounded by cats except for a brief period of her life. She was known to peruse the adoption listings looking for Siamese cats to adopt. But cats were not the only thing that Nancy enjoyed. Nancy was an avid game player, especially when it came to cards. This was instilled in her by her parents, and she made certain that all her children and grandchildren developed a love of card playing and spending family time together. She passed many hours completing jig-saw puzzles with Ken and her family.

Nancy is survived by her husband Ken, her stepdaughter and husband Tammy and Aaron Welsh, their children Bradley and Brenton, and their granddaughter Adaya; her son and wife Scott and Petra Gilmore, her daughter and husband Jen and Stan French and their children, Lauren, Hayley, Morgan, and Luke; her son and wife Rob and Tina Hoffmann and their children Marcus, Oliver, and Benjamin; and her daughter and partner Erica Hoffmann and Laura Kastraba and their children Alex and Ellie.

An informal Celebration of Life will be held graveside at Highland (IL) City Cemetery August 12, 2022, at 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, cancer research, or your local pet rescue or shelter