Tim Hoff

MN and WI Licensed Funeral Director | Certified Funeral Celebrant | Owner

Tim is a graduate of St. Charles High School and a 1980 graduate of the University of MN, Department of Mortuary Science. Tim joined his father, Lowell, in funeral care in 1983. Tim is involved in the Children’s Grief Connection, which offers Hearts of Hope family grief camp. Tim is past president of the MN Funeral Directors Association and the Lewiston Lions Club. He and Jenny have four children, Ashley, Alyssa, Danielle, and Tyler. Tim serves as a funeral director.

Ashley Hoff-Czaplewski

MN and WI Licensed Funeral Director | Certified Crematory Operator | Certified Funeral Celebrant

Ashley is a licensed funeral director in MN and WI. She is also a certified funeral celebrant and certified crematory operator. She received her degree in mortuary science from the University of MN.

Ashley is a third-generation funeral director, following in her grandpa, dad, and uncle’s footsteps. She says, “I love my job. I truly enjoy helping people through one of the most difficult times in their lives and helping them find creative ways to celebrate and remember the person who died.”

She and her husband, Brandon, live just outside of Winona. They have two children, Brooks (5) and Tessa (2), who keep them on their toes. Ashley enjoys spending time on the river, hunting, hiking throughout their property, and spending time with family and friends.

Maddie Schmoker

MN Funeral Director Intern | WI Licensed Apprentice | Certified Crematory Operator

Maddie is a 2017 graduate of Wabasha-Kellogg High School. She went on to study at  Iowa Central Community College for two years and earned her Associates of Arts and Associates of Science, Pre-Mortuary Science. She competed in Track and Field, throwing the shot put, hammer, and weight and became a 3-time NJCAA All-American.

She then transferred to Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, to earn her bachelor’s of Mortuary Science. She continued competing in track, throwing amongst one of the most difficult NCAA Division II conferences, The GLIAC. She was a member of the Mortuary Science students committee, Sports Entertainment and Business Association, and she held a director position for her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.  

In her free time, she enjoys snowmobiling, golfing, boating, playing volleyball, and softball. Maddie is currently a mentor for future Wayne State University Mortuary Science students. After graduating, she moved to her hometown to be back in the community where she grew up. In Maddie's words, "It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside the Hoffs. I truly enjoy the work that I do. I will continue to grow throughout my internship, and I am excited to see the future that lies ahead of me."

Mara James

MN Licensed Funeral Director | Certified Crematory Operator

Mara grew up in Rochester, MN. She knew she wanted to pursue a career in funeral service since she was in high school. She graduated from the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota in 2008. She joined Hoff Funeral Home in March 2023.



Mara and her husband, Bryan, live in Winona. She has 2 step-children, Alex and Brenna. When she’s not at work Mara enjoys working in her home pottery studio, and trying to wear out her rambunctious dog, Aspen. Mara has an eclectic taste for music and goes to concerts whenever she gets the chance. More than anything, she loves spending time with Bryan and the kids at home.

Lisa Hawkinson

Preplanning Specialist

Lisa is from small town Elysian, MN, and moved to Winona to attend Winona State University where she received a degree in Social Work. She has remained in Winona where she and her husband, Matt, have raised their three children. After spending 18 years driving her kids around and volunteering in their activities, it was time to channel her energy elsewhere.

She joined the team in December 2018 as a Preplanning Specialist, helping people plan their funerals in advance. She enjoys meeting new people each day and listening to their life stories. Although death isn’t an easy topic to talk about or to plan for, people are relieved once they have planned as it helps ease the stress for the family. One of the most rewarding parts of her day is making people feel at ease, knowing they have their final wishes planned and financially taken care of.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volunteering, being outdoors, reading books, and doing puzzles.

Jenny Hoff

Office Manager | Certified Funeral Celebrant 

Jenny wears a variety of hats at the funeral home. Some days, she’s behind the desk managing an office, and other days, Jenny might be fulfilling her role as certified funeral celebrant, assisting families in planning unique and memorable services for their loved one.

Her goal is to always inspire the families she serves and to celebrate lives in meaningful ways. Jenny contributes to the mission by helping families understand that while the service is about the person who died,  it is truly for the family who is left behind. “Services help families start to heal and to begin to figure out how to live life without their loved one in it.”

Jenny grew up in New Prague, MN, and today calls St. Charles home. Jenny and her husband, Tim, have four grown children and five grandchildren. Being a grandma is her favorite role.

Another hat she wears? The Minnesota Vikings, much to the dismay of her Packer-loving family. Time spent golfing and enjoying their lake home are also at the top of her list. Jenny and Tim are active with Children’s Grief Connection, a camp for families who have lost someone special.

Phil Schwantz

Gary is a 1981 graduate of St. Charles High School in St. Charles, MN. He attended Winona State University in Winona, MN for two years and the University of MN Duluth for one year. He graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in March of 1985. Gary served his year of internship at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN. He then worked at Ranfranz Funeral Home in Rochester, MN until 1992, when he moved to Rushford, MN to join the family business.

He is active in his community serving on the church council and in the Rushford Lions Club, where he runs the annual Rushford Lions Childrens Fund Golfathon. Gary also enjoys coaching in the Rushford Elementary Wrestling Program. Gary manages the Rushford and Houston Chapels of Hoff Funeral Homes. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, cross country ski racing, water skiing, and fishing. Gary and his wife Sue have four children.

Sue was raised in Hayward, WI and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in Dental Hygiene. Sue began her career at Mayo Clinic in the periodontics section of the Dental Department. She is married to Gary, and they have four children, Gretchen, Alex, Nick, and Olivia.

Sue enjoys being active in the Rushford community. Currently, she is a board member of the R-P Mat Club, president of Rushford-Peterson's Partners in Education, a Knowledge Bowl volunteer/coach, and a member of the Rushford-Peterson School Design Team. She has been a Girl Scout Leader, a Sunday School Teacher, and a past member of the Rushford Community Foundation.

In her free time, Sue enjoys reading, sewing, and knitting. She is passionate about photography, especially sports photography. Some of Sue's outdoor pursuits include straw bale gardening, walking her two Labs, cross country skiing, and biking the Root River Trail.