Helen Jerine Hoff

March 19, 1930 - May 13, 2025

Helen Jerine (née Messner) Hoff, 95, of Elkhart died of pneumonia at 4:25 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at Elkhart General Hospital, surrounded by members of her family.

Helen was born March 19, 1930 in Nappanee to Earl and Betty (Tucker) Messner. She and her younger brothers Jim and Bob had a modest but happy childhood, and the Messner home was the meeting place for the neighborhood kids. Helen also had fond memories of time spent on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Milford.

Helen attended school in Nappanee, graduating from Nappanee High School in 1947. Shortly thereafter she moved to South Bend, where she attended business college to study accounting.

As a young woman, Helen enjoyed trips to Lake Michigan and nights out dancing with her friends from the YMCA. On one such outing she met Orval (“Bud”) Hoff, and after a year of dating she proposed to him. The two were married on February 16, 1952. Bud and Helen had their first son Richard (“Rick”) in 1954, and their second son Randall (“Randy”) followed in 1957.

In addition to her role as a mother, Helen’s love for others led her to teach Sunday school and hold various jobs where she could be social. In 1969, Helen and Bud moved to Elkhart and bought the Simonton Lake Drive-in, and in the early 1970s they built their family home in Sturdy Oaks. Helen and Bud ran their 50s style drive-in with the help of their sons until 1980. The restaurant remains in the family, owned first by Rick and his wife Roni and now by their son Jason and daughter-in-law Amanda.

Throughout their marriage, Helen and Bud enjoyed traveling the world and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Family hikes at Potato Creek and Turkey Run state parks were a special highlight. In 1999, after 47 happy years of marriage, the family mourned Bud’s death from progressive supranuclear palsy.

After Bud’s passing, Helen kept busy with family activities, as well as gardening, baking, knitting, reading, crossword puzzles, bus trips, and card games with friends. She particularly enjoyed holidays and special occasions with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen was an active member of Winding Waters Brethren Church and Elkhart East Christian Church. She served her community by tutoring elementary school students and volunteering with and donating to various local ministries. Many also knew her as the “pumpkin lady” from her cheerful presence at A-mazing Acres corn maze in Edwardsburg.

Helen was known for her youthful spirit, active social calendar, and fierce independence. Her family is profoundly grateful to the caregivers who helped Helen to maintain this independence and accompanied her during the final years of her life, especially Denise Kline.

Although her family mourns her passing, Helen’s legacy survives in her loving sons Rick (Roni) and Randy (Gina) Hoff; six grandchildren, Jason (Amanda), Sarah (Cory), Brittani, Kimberly (Michael), David, and Mark; and eight great-grandchildren, Reese, Ronin, Jase, Silas, Grace, Lyla, Joshua, and Luke. Her memory will also be cherished by her many friends.

Pursuant to her wishes, Helen has been cremated, and Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home has been entrusted with her care.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 29, 3-5 p.m. at Elkhart East Christian Church (21851 Co Rd 4, Bristol), with a memorial service at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to SPA Women’s Ministry Homes (3404 Toledo Rd, Elkhart).