Sherry Jean Hofer passed away peacefully on July 17, 2026, at The Club at Wellington in Wellington, Florida.
Born on June 17, 1943, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Sherry was the daughter of Edgar and Mae Joy (Lyman) Scholz. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire before earning a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Denver. In 1966, she married Jimmy Carlisle Hofer, and together they built their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin, living on Florence Street, just blocks away from the University.
Sherry devoted more than 35 years to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she served as a Reference Librarian and later as Assistant Professor in Information Technology Services. She believed deeply in the value of knowledge, helping countless students and faculty find not only information but confidence in their own learning. Even after retiring in 2002, her commitment to caring for others continued as she worked part-time in several group homes in Whitewater. She remained in southern Wisconsin until moving to Florida in 2020.
To know Sherry was to know someone who found joy in creating beauty and making others feel cared for. She had a remarkable gift for gardening and surrounded herself with thriving indoor and outdoor plants. Flowers from her garden often found their way to her church altar, where she faithfully served on the altar guild. She was an accomplished crocheter and seamstress whose handmade afghans and quilts became treasured gifts for family and friends. Ever the librarian, she was rarely without a good book, and her kitchen was a place where delicious meals and warm hospitality brought family together. She cherished family gatherings and made a point of staying connected with relatives near and far.
Affectionately known as “Mama Sketch,” Sherry became a steadfast source of encouragement for her son Jason and the many military veterans and friends he met during his Appalachian Trail journey. Her kindness extended well beyond her immediate family, and she had a special ability to make people feel welcomed, supported, and loved.
Sherry was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Jimmy.
She is survived by her sons, Christian Carlisle Hofer and his wife, Jennifer, and Jason Edgar Hofer; her grandson, Jacob Rosenblum; her sister, Kathryn Benashski (Richard); her nieces, Jessica Watkin (Chris) and Alison Taylor (Will); three grandnieces and one grandnephew; her sister-in-law, Sherry DuPont; her niece, Danielle Jodts (Brad); and two grandnephews.
She also shared an enduring and meaningful relationship with Christian’s former wife, Jennifer Rosenblum, and her family—Jeremy, Jonas, Judah, Herb, and Shelly—who remained an important part of her extended family throughout her life.
The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff of The Club at Wellington, and especially to Joyce, Andra, Regina, Blair, and Kasandra, whose loving care, friendship, and companionship brought comfort and joy to Sherry during her final years.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Appalachian Voices, or the American Library Association in Sherry’s memory.
Sherry’s legacy lives on in the knowledge she shared, the beauty she cultivated, the meals she lovingly prepared, the blankets she stitched by hand, and, above all, the quiet generosity and unwavering love she gave so freely to her family and friends. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
