Obituary for Marlene Kay (Waniger) Hoffman

Marlene Kay (Waniger) Hoffman of Stratford, Wisconsin, finished her earthly journey on Saturday, August 8, 2020.  Funeral services will be held at Community Bible Church, 100 Fieldcrest Drive, Stratford, WI, on Sunday, August 16, 2020, where a visitation will be from 2:00 pm until service time. Pastor Bill Nesbitt will officiate. The funeral will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes.  Burial will be in Ebenezer United Church Cemetery, Town of Cleveland, Marathon County. Sauter / Rembs Funeral Home, Stratford, is assisting the family.

 

Marlene was born on August 5, 1940, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Adrien and Elda (Behringer) Waniger. The family moved to Colby, WI, where she met Lyle Hoffman. It’s said that she was engaged to someone else when they met, but Lyle said she might as well give back the ring because she was going to marry him. They did marry, on June 4, 1960, and celebrated 60 years together in June 2020. They had six children together: Kerry of Stratford; Scott (Kim) of Phillips, WI; Danny; Lyle (Sandy Lemmer-Matz) of Edgar, WI; Tammy Stalcup (Ron) of Beloit, WI; and Donnie (Valerie) of Stratford.

 

Marlene was a stay-at-home mother and farm wife, with a reputation as a hard worker and a phenomenal cook. Her children and grandchildren were spoiled with Christmas cookies, cherry cheesecake, chocolate eclairs, chocolate cake with fluffy white frosting, and especially with her homemade pizza and bread. She loved being outdoors, and her happy place was the pond on the family farm north of Stratford. Marlene loved her animals, especially Mikey, Buster, and the nursing home cat. She had an artistic bent and liked learning new crafts, played the accordion, and had a special bond with more than one son and “their” music.

 

When her children were older and the cows sold, Marlene enjoyed the many friends she made while working at Fiskars in Spencer and Davel’s in Stratford.

 

While in her late 20’s, shortly after the passing of her infant son, Danny, Marlene went forward to receive Christ as her Savior at Calvary Bible Church in Marshfield. She and Lyle eventually made Community Bible Church in Stratford their church home, where she made many dear friends.

 

Marlene is survived by her husband Lyle, 5 children, 18 grandchildren:  Adrienne, Jayna, Haley, Ana, Louisa, Lindsey, Adam (Christi), Joanna, Charity, Levi (Devrah), Lydia, Silas, Ruthie, Chloe, Joy, Parker, Olivia, Billie, and 4 great-grandchildren: Serenity, Mark, Elijah, and Nigel.  She is also survived by her sisters, Karen (Leonard) Riehle of Abbotsford, WI, and Debra Framke of Edgar, WI, and sisters-in-law Nona Leffel and Gloria Hoffman, both of Stratford.  She was preceded in death by her son, Danny, her parents, brother-in-law Gary Framke, and many beloved brothers and sisters-in-law from her husband’s side.

 

The family thanks Willow Brooke Senior Living in Stevens Point and Ascension Hospice for their care of Marlene in her final days.  “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

 

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com