Isla Mae Hoffman, age 97, of River Falls, formerly of New Ulm, died at Prescott Nursing & Rehab on June 24, 2026.
Isla was born on Sept. 21, 1928, in Timber Lake, SD, the daughter of Everette and Jesse (Martin) Jarman. She was raised in South Dakota and graduated from Doland High School before taking business classes at Mitchell Technical College. Shortly thereafter, she was united in marriage to Robert Hoffman at Doland Methodist Church by Isla’s father, who was himself a minister.
A woman with a sense of taste and style, Isla began working at JCPenney. She started in sales, but it quickly became evident that her talents could be used in even greater ways. She went on to assist various JCPenney stores, helping them get established and addressing internal challenges.
Isla was strong-willed and carried a deep set of convictions. Her two great loves were music and theater. She was a gifted pianist who could play beautifully without sheet music. She belonged to several choirs, including a bell choir, and her favorite music included classical selections and show tunes. Not only could she carry a tune, she could dance to one as well. In fact, she learned tap dancing well into her 80s. She also loved theatrical productions and took great pride in helping with performances through the Hibbing Children’s Summer Theater until the age of 85. Outside, she enjoyed a quiet day mowing the lawn and appreciated the beauty of the flower beds Robert planted.
She is survived by her children, Susan (Roger) Pesheck of River Falls, Allen (Patricia) Hoffman of St. Paul, and Robin (Curtis) Wichman of Fargo, ND; her grandchildren, Alyssa (Mike), Katheryn, Molly (Joel), Laura (Christopher), Alex (Leah), Christopher (Natalie), Kelsey, and Jordan; her great-grandchildren, Cameron, Elliot, Amelia, Eleanor, Simon, Evelyn, Alice, and Jillian; and her great-great-grandchild, Daunte.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her siblings, Wayne (Kay), Wesly (Lorraine), Meredith (Dorothy and Betty), Irene (Floyd and Harold), Eunice (Delmar), and Darlene (Richard and John).
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14 at O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 225 S. Third St., River Falls, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing, Minn. Memorials are preferred to the discretion of the family.
Arrangements are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of River Falls. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-425-5644.
