Robert Emmett Hoff

August 28, 1926 ~ October 13, 2025

Robert "Bob"  Hoff, age 99, passed peacefully on October 13, 2025, at The Fountains of Hosanna, Lakeville, MN.

Bob was preceded in death by wife, Betty, and siblings, John Carlberg and Darlene Norris.

Bob is survived by daughters, Deborah Nuernberger (Phil), Diane Dunn (Bill), and Darcy Riess (Curt); grandchildren, Toshi Long (Bryan), Raka Spoerri (Karl), Sam Nuernberger (Liz), Ryan Dunn (Alexa), Mallory Sullivan (Jack), Austin Riess (Amy), Mason Riess (Nikki) and Micayla Riess (Adam); 15 great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

Bob served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Pennsylvania during WW II.  He was an expert craftsman and an avid duck hunter.

Bob served throughout his life with an open, kind and generous heart.  He was loved by many for his stories, humor and wit.  He was a devoted husband and father.

When Bob was 13 years old, his parents bought him a clarinet, and he started taking lessons from Earl Handlon who was with the Minnesota Orchestra.  He played all through school.  After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and became band director of the Great Lakes "Boot Camp" Band.  From there he went to the Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C. and then played aboard the battleship Pennsylvania which was torpedoed at Okinawa, Japan.  He also played aboard the battleship Washington.

After the navy, he studied with Agustin Duques with the NBC Symphony who suggested that he audition for the Juilliard School of Music.  He did and was accepted.  After one year at Julliard, Bob realized he would not get the kind of job with a fine orchestra that he wanted so he switched vocations.

Bob wanted to make fine cabinets and furniture.  He started his own company and was in business for over 30 years.  Some of the furniture he made is featured in one of Frank Lloyd Wright's books.

After retiring, Bob got his clarinet out again.  He played ten years in the Anna Maria Orchestra, a few years in a St. Paul Concert Band and has played in the Suncoast Concert Bank since 1998.  After switching to the Bass Clarinet, he hopes they allow a Bass Clarinet in heaven.

Memorial Service to be held Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 11:00 am, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 13901 Fairview Drive, Burnsville.

Memorials can be made to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.