Jay Hoen, age 40 of Prior Lake, passed away at his home on October 9, 2017. A time of gathering will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2017 from 2-4 PM with closing prayers at 4 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake.
On October 5, 1977 in Waconia, MN parents Leon and Judy Hoen celebrated the birth of their son, Jason John Hoen. He was the youngest of four boys to grow up in Cologne. In his childhood, Jay quickly grew fond of the outdoors. Along with his brothers and father, Jay enjoyed fishing and hunting—squirrel, bird, deer, and elk. Over the years, Jay spent numerous weekends up north with his family and friends. He also traveled to Colorado for a yearly hunting trip with his best friends from high school.
Jay attended St. Bernard’s Elementary in Cologne and Norwood-Young American High School. Following high school, Jay completed his education at Dunwoody College of Technology. He was a member of the #292 union and worked as an electrical journeyman with Hunt Electric of Bloomington.
Jay met his wife, Kate Ginter, during Ozzfest in 1998. He immediately caught Kate’s eye with his shirt off and his muscles bursting out of his overalls. After dating for some time, the couple exchanged wedding vows on December 6, 2004. Their union was blessed with two wonderful daughters, Hannah and Maggie whom he loved spending time with. The family lived in Belle Plaine for eight years before moving to Prior Lake six years ago to be closer to family.
Family was incredibly important to Jay. He was proud to coach his daughter’s softball team and attend every game. This last year and a half he worked with his girls almost every night to teach them how to pitch, so they would stay on top of it. In the summer, they would four wheel, fish, travel and he would always have an outside project going. We would all call it “a Hoen family fun day”. Jay would stay busy doing house projects all throughout the year. He just wanted to make us happy and always make sure we were taken care of. If we had an idea for the house, he would get started and make sure it was perfect. The fall was reserved mostly for hunting which he was excited to start taking the girls with him. He would travel with friends to Colorado in October in hopes of shooting an elk which in 2006 he shot a 5 by 4 and it is hanging in the basement. In the winter, Jay loved to go sledding with his girls and his yellow lab Sadie. He enjoyed taking Sadie hunting and watching her work to get birds.
Jay’s kind heart extended beyond his family. He often gave his time and talents to his friends by helping them with home improvement projects, even when it meant not finishing his own projects at home. Jay was a wonderful provider for his family and took great pride in that. Jay was a hard-working man and we are so glad he got his spot in heaven.
Jay was a generous and fun-loving individual who is loved and missed by his wife, Kate Hoen; daughters’, Hannah and Maggie; parents, Leon and Judy Hoen; parents-in-law, Ralph Ginter and Clare Ginter; brothers, Bob (Kathy) Hoen, Rick (Connie) Hoen, Jeff (Sherie) Hoen; nieces and nephews, Jena, Lauren, Parker, Tanner, Hunter, Logan Hoen; sister-in-law, Gretchen Ginter; step-grandfather, Ed Moe; many dear relatives and devoted friends.
Jay is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Margaret and Matt Hoen; step-grandmother, Seil Hoen; maternal grandparents, Lester and Bernice Kling.
