Father Hoke was born in Rapid city, South Dakota at Ellsworth Air Force Base on August 5, 1949, the second son of a military family. His mother Barbara Marie and his father John Michael, an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, had three other children. The oldest was Father's brother Michael, and his two younger sisters are Jane Fellman and Michelle Wise. Michael served in the Marine Corps and was killed in Viet Nam in 1967. Jane lives in Sterling, Alaska with her husband Jim and they have five children. Michele and her husband Dirk live on a sheep farm near Spring Mills, Pennsylvania and have three children. John and Barbara Hoke moved their family from South Dakota to Alaska following John's assignment to Elmendorf Air Force Base. In 1967, Father Hoke graduated from West Anchorage High School and attended his first year of college at Alaska Methodist University, also in Anchorage. He graduated in 1971 from Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland with a bachelor's degree in psychology and classical philosophy. Father Hoke continued his studies at Mount St Mary's Seminary and graduated in 1975 with a master's degree in divinity. Following his ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph T. Daley in 1976, Father Hoke began his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Harrisburg as parochial vicar at St. Rose of Lima Parish in York. In addition to the parishioners there, he also ministered to the spiritual needs of inmates at York County Prison. Starting in 1979 until 1981, Father served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick's Parish in Carlisle, where he also assisted at the Army War College chapel located there. On January 6, 1981, Father Hoke began 13 years of service as hospital chaplain and campus minister at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. During his chaplaincy, he resided at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey. In 1993-1994 he served as parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Father Hoke then went to St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Annville, Pennsylvania, where he was pastor and administrator from 1994 to 1999. In addition to his chaplaincy and pastoral ministries, Father Hoke also served as a member of the Presbyteral Council and as Cursillo Spiritual Director. In the millennial year 2000, after 25 years of Catholic parochial and secular chaplaincy in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Father Hoke began his priestly ministry to military personnel assigned in the United States and overseas. Following his commission as an officer in the United States Navy, Father completed Chaplain's School in Newport, Rhode Island. His 10-year tour as a Navy Chaplain first took him to Navy Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland for an 18-month assignment. He then served over three years with artillery and infantry units of the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. In 2004, Father Hoke served with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan. Following his overseas deployment, Father Hoke was assigned as chaplain at the US Coast Gard Training Center in Petaluma, California, where he resided at St. James Parish in Petaluma. In December 2007, he reported to the aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan as onboard chaplain. In that role, he ministered to over 6,000 sailors on the seven ships within the carrier strike group. When his Navy chaplaincy ended in September 2011, Father Hoke returned to the Diocese of Harrisburg. He served in the replacement ministry for the diocese, and while receiving treatment for prostate cancer at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, he served there as a hospital chaplain. On March 1, 2012, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden appointed him administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Milton. On June 18, 2012, Bishop McFadden named Father Hoke the pastor of St. Joseph's. During his 12 years as pastor, he faithfully tended to the spiritual needs of parishioners, inspired a greater love and devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady, lifted the burden of parish debt, cultivated a renewed spirit of giving, and worked tirelessly to enrich the spiritual lives of God's people in the Milton community. Father Hoke's words gave light and comfort to many, and his deeds set an example of holiness that will endure beyond his time on earth. Father Hoke was a loving son, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle. As priest, he officiated at his sisters' weddings and baptized his nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Affectionately called "Coco" by family members, Father Hoke will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by them all. In addition to his sisters and their husbands, Father Hoke is survived by eight beloved nieces and nephews: Patricia Berry and her husband Travis, Jacob Fellman and his wife Jillian, Lukas Fellman and his wife Nikki, Gabriel Fellman, Matthew Fellman and his wife Melissa, Michael Wise and his wife Lissa, Jennifer Wise and Philip Wise. He had 11 grand nieces and nephews: Liam, Kinley and Asher Berry: Micah, Kyla and Wesley Fellman: Levi and River Fellman: Mila Fellman: Landon and Callen Wise. Here then is the life of John David Hoke - son, brother, uncle, great uncle, beloved priest, chaplain, and pastor.