Wayne Cazier Hoffman

On June 28, 1950, in San Mateo, California the gates of heaven opened and a new baby, Wayne, joined the Grant & Janeal Cazier Hoffman family. He had an older brother, Michael and would have two younger sisters to come, Marilyn and Deanna.

When he was five years old, tragedy stuck and his father was killed in an auto-pedestrian accident in Sacramento, CA. The young family moved to Preston, Idaho where they could be closer to family. There Wayne attended elementary school.

      In 1958, his mother married a former Preston classmate, John C Hansen, and they moved from Idaho to Toston, Montana to live on the family ranch, a wonderland of work and play. Wayne soon had another brother and three sisters to tease: Marian, John, Pamela Rose, and Geraldine.

Wayne was very active and cheerful. He loved the outdoors, building things with his hands, operating farm equipment, moving sprinkler pipes, taking piano lessons from Lorraine Kitto, and teasing his sisters. He attended school in Three Forks and Townsend, MT.  In high school he played keyboard in a band, played the organ for church, ran on the track team, served as President of the National Honor Society, and represented Townsend at Montana Boys’ State. 

After graduation, Wayne attended Rick’s College in Rexburg, ID where he met and dated his future wife, Kathleen Johnson. He then served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North Carolina-Virginia Mission.

Following his mission, he attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. He married Kathleen and they moved to Sunnyvale, CA where he worked as a carpenter. They had four children including twins. His family was his pride and joy. However, schizophrenia began to affect his life, and his marriage ended in divorce. He would battle this mental illness for the rest of his life.

      Wayne moved back to Townsend where he worked various jobs, and he spent a short time in the Montana National Guard. Eventually he found love again and married Pauline Shelton on February 23, 1990, in Helena, MT, and they were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. They enjoyed movies, shopping, eating out, church attendance, temple service, and genealogy. They lived most of their marriage in Helena but spent their last few years in Idaho Falls. Pauline was a devoted companion and support to him for over thirty years until her death in December of 2020. 

On the morning of April 7, 2023, Wayne peacefully left this mortal home, victorious over its tests and challenges. The angels of heaven sang as he was reunited with those who had preceded him in death: his wife Pauline; his father and mother, John & Janeal; his father Grant; his grandparents; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is survived by his children James (RaeLene), Judy (Adam), David (Elisa), and Gary (Mandy), 18 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He is also survived by his siblings Michael (Patty), Marilyn (Alan), Deanna, Marian (Richard), John, Pamela Rose (Dean), and Geri (Scott), and large extended family.

The family would like to thank the many friends, aides, and healthcare workers who assisted Wayne throughout his life. We especially thank the staff and residents at Turtle & Crane Assisted Living who loved him and provided friendship and a home for him (with plenty of good food) during the last two years of his life.

Wayne will be remembered for his generous heart, sense of humor, loyalty to God, love of family, and incredible example of endurance. He would want us to know that he knows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of all who have faith in Him and follow His path. We rejoice in the knowledge that Wayne's mind is now free!!!  

The funeral will be held Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at 11:30am at the Idaho Falls LDS 32nd Ward Building, 651 Gladstone St., Idaho Falls, ID. A viewing will be held an hour prior from 10:30-11:15am. A graveside Service will be Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023, at 10:00am, at the Deep Creek Cemetery, Townsend, MT. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com