Frances Eleanor Hoff

Obituary For Frances Eleanor Hoff

After a long and wonderful life, Frances Eleanor Hoff, 101, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

A private family burial will take place at Ankeny Memorial Gardens.

Frances, affectionately known as Fran, was born on August 5, 1924, in Earlham, Iowa, to Charles and Lucy (Nuckolls) Musselman. Fran was the youngest of nine children. At the age of three, her family moved to Dexter, which is where she found her first love, Drew’s Candy. Later, at the age of thirteen, Fran and her family moved to Valley Junction in West Des Moines.

One of Fran’s greatest memories of her childhood was listening to her mother tell stories. Among the stories Fran cherished most was the tale of her grandfather’s connection with Jesse James. When Fran was nine, her father and brother took part in the Dexter Shootout at Dexfield Park, an attempt to capture the notorious outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde. As a teenager, Fran would ride the bus to Redfield to visit her sister, Goldie. One day as she was visiting and picking raspberries, she met her future husband, Merle Hoff.

Fran and Merle were married on March 31, 1942, and together had five children while residing in Des Moines. Fran supported World War II by working as a certified welder at Solar Aircraft Company welding manifolds for military war planes. In 1952, Fran and Merle set roots in Ankeny where she worked part-time as a waitress and continued to raise their children. As a family, they enjoyed traveling and spending time together. Fran and Merle also shared different hobbies like bowling, riding snowmobiles, fishing, and an occasional casino trip.

After retirement, they spent time traveling in their camper to Oregon and Florda to visit their children and grandchildren. Fran and Merle also enjoyed trips to Spain and Alaska.

Fran is survived by her son, Jerry (Mary) Hoff of Indianola; daughter, Shari Lytton; and son, Chuck (Tracey) Hoff of Ankeny. She was blessed with 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great grandchildren.

Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Merle; her parents; her daughter, Linda Layton; son, Mike Hoff; granddaughter, Amy Hohenshell; and her eight brothers and sisters.

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