Pearl Marie (Hoffmann) McMahon passed to her heavenly rest on April 13, 2025 at 104 years old.  Pearl was the oldest child of Arthur and Marie (Duscheck) Hoffmann, born April 1, 1921 in Dubuque Iowa. Pearl shared this birthday with her Uncle Carl Hoffmann, cousin Joel Hoffmann and great-grandson Jacob McMahon.   She is preceded in death by her parents, 7 siblings: Jeanne O’Rourke, Gloria Schueler, Rosemary Cox, John Hoffmann, James Hoffmann, Thomas Hoffmann and Barbara Hanten, plus two husbands Joseph McMahon married Feb 15, 1947 until his death Oct 1989 and William Gehle married Sept 11, 1993 until his death Dec 1996 and her great-grandson Russell Smiley who died at age 17 March 2023.

Pearl is survived by her five children: Susan Moore, Mark (Becky Glynn) McMahon and Maureen (Bill) Krueger all of Orange CA, Timothy McMahon of Illinois and Michael McMahon of Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild along with many nieces, nephews and other family members who will all miss her greatly.

Pearl grew up in Dubuque IA in the house in which her own mother had been raised. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, Pearl left school after 10th grade to help support her family.  She worked at a variety of jobs, including a shoe factory, glove factory and Clark College kitchen. During World War II she worked at a boot factory making boots for the soldiers. Pearl and Joe McMahon began dating in 1946 after Joe returned home from military service.  Pearl loved to dance so Joe secretly took dancing lessons to surprise her. That won her heart and they were married six months later. Throughout their life together, going out dancing was a regular activity. In 1956 they moved their young family from Iowa to Orange California where Pearl continued to live until her death.

Pearl enjoyed painting and filled the walls of their home with her paintings.  She also enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling (especially to Las Vegas!) dancing, playing bridge and scrabble and as a senior joined a senior bowling league where she met her second husband.  Her favorite candy was dark chocolate and when asked the secret to her long life, she said that it was because she ate one dark chocolate Hershey’s Kiss every day.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers at Amparo Elder Care for the loving and compassionate care that was shown to our mother during the final months of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pearl McMahon Scholarship Fund. Please see the link below to make a donation.

https://themuck.org/pearl-mcmahon