Keith Hoffman

HOFFMAN, Keith…

Keith Hoffman passed away peacefully, on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in his 95th year in London. Keith was born in Kitchener, ON and was the only son of Gordon John Hoffman and Lily (Eizerman) Hoffman.

He grew up in Kitchener and began his career early as a lineman and equipment installer with the Bell Telephone company travelling to various towns and rural areas in southern Ontario. It was in Kitchener he met his future wife, Laurie Isobel (nee Porteus). They were married there in 1954 and settled down to raise three daughters.

He learned to ski as a boy from a young Austrian immigrant who boarded with his parents for a short time after the war. Taking a tram from the house he and a friend would march across farm fields with their skis to the local ski club and spend the day on the slopes. He later helped to expand the runs at that hill and spent time volunteering with the ski patrol. He passed this love of skiing on to his family. Family vacations involved camping including one long trip across Canada and many weekends spent in various parks across Newfoundland.

He was a Mister Fix it, handy with most anything that needed building or repairing. He valued community service. As a young fellow he was a Scout leader and passed on many practical skills to his kids. He sang in the choir and volunteered his technical skills to help with the Wesley United Church radio station. He was a member of the local Kiwanis club and helped out with many projects, including the Kiwanis Music Festival and manning the booth at the annual St John’s Regatta. After retiring and returning to Kitchener he and his best friend from childhood became involved in the charitable organization Habitat for Humanity – his organizational skills and knowledge helped build homes for families.

Keith loved his time living and working in Newfoundland for the Telephone company. They lived there for twelve years until moving to Ottawa to work for Telecom Canada. This was a highlight of his career, representing Canada in International Telecommunications Standards in Geneva, Switzerland and attending conferences in other countries. Isobel often travelled with him and they loved this opportunity to see new countries and meet people from everywhere.

Keith is survived by his three daughters: Laurie (David Dempster) St. John’s, NL, Merrilee (Evan Chase) of London, ON and Jennifer (Randy Thompson) of Rocky Harbour, NL. He is also survived by his beloved grand children Laurie (Johanna), Zoe (Michael), Benjamin (Niki) and Maren (Nick) and the precious great-grandchildren Robert, Isobel and Sylvia.

Keith was a loving father, husband and Grandpa/Poppa. His daughters are thankful to have had a wonderful father who encouraged and believed in them. He was curious, thoughtful, open minded and strong. He and Isobel taught by example, the lessons of kindness, empathy and generosity. He is missed.

Friends and guests are invited to visitation on Friday, July 4, 2025 from 10-10:45am at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London. Memorial Service will follow in the funeral home chapel at 11am with live streaming available on the A. Millard George Funeral Home Youtube page. Interment in Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener. Donations in Keith’s memory may be made to any one of the charities he supported; Habitat for Humanity, Plan Canada and local SPCAs.

Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com