We all get a number of days to live our lives, and Bill's number was 35,128. William "Bill" J. Hoffman, age 96, of Raleigh, NC, died peacefully on December 15, 2019 surrounded by those who loved him at the Homestead Care Center, New Holstein, WI.

B ill was born on September 18, 1923 in Black River Falls, son of the late William and Helene (Danielson) Hoffman. He said that growing up in Black River Falls was the best place in the world. The woods and creek behind his house was his playground and kids today would never survive the adventurous childhood he had. Bill graduated from Black River Falls High School, with the class of 1941. He played clarinet in high school and had a love for music. Bill loved to dance and was a great roller skater. When he was young, he was known in many roller-skating rinks. He even had his skates mailed to him in when he was in the service, where, he joked, he and his buddies had been "almost thrown out of some of the finest roller rinks in California" for playing trip-tag. His original skates are now on display in the Roller Rink in Grafton. Bill started working for Douglas Aircraft in California before he enlisted in the Air Force, serving stateside during World War II. On July 8, 1950 he married Dolores Rumpel in Hudson, WI. She preceded him in death on October 1, 2012. Bill worked for Square D, which lead to him to relocate his family to North Carolina in 1972, retiring in 1985. This did not stop him from always coming back to his cottage on Wilke Lake, WI each year.

Bill was never one to let the grass grow under his feet, as he could never sit still. He had a passion for hunting, and fishing and loved to go hunting with his brothers, and later in North Carolina with his son. His last deer hunting trip, at the age of 92, brought him great success of a nice sized buck. Bill had a knack for fixing anything anyone brought him, and was always willing to lend a hand to his neighbors when they needed something.

Bill is survived by his daughter: Karen (Jeff) Hoffman, North Carolina and two grandchildren: Anna Hoffman and Will Hoffman. He is further survived by his special friend Peggy Buchholz, Kiel and her family, as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, neighbors, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Dolores, his parents, his son: Douglas ('Lizbeth) Hoffman, brothers and sister: Robert (Rainey), Herbert (Betty), and Heloise "Sis" (Jack) DeGaynor.

Per Bill's wishes cremation has taken place and private family memorial was held. A Celebration of Bill's life will be held in the Summer of 2020 at his cottage on Wilke Lake.

The family would like to send a special Thank You to the Homestead Care Center, New Holstein as well as Sharon S. Richardson Hospice for the compassion and care of Bill during his recent illness. The family would also like to thank Peggy and her family for always being there for Bill when he was at the cottage, as well as recently during his illness sitting by his side through the day and night.

Bill loved people and never met a stranger – when asked how he managed to have such a long life- he would say "clean living and a sense of humor". Then tell everyone to never los e their sense of humor.

He will be missed for many things and many ways but the thing that will be missed the most is the sense of humor and love of people.