Soon Ok Noel, 87, of Kenosha, passed away peacefully with her loving friends and family by her side on Friday, July 25, 2025, at her residence.
Soon was born a Korean national on April 25, 1938, in Miyazaki, Japan. At the age of seven, her family was relocated to Busan, South Korea. She later moved to Jeju Island, South Korea, a popular vacation destination, and began a successful restaurant. She then moved to America and settled in Kenosha, where she married Ralph “Skip” Hoffman, who passed away in 1996.
She later met and married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Noel. Alongside Bob, she opened Kenosha’s first sushi restaurant, Soon’s Sushi Café. Soon loved sharing her food and culture with the community so much that she only recently retired at the age of 86. She and Bob treated every customer like family.
Soon was a member of the Kenosha Korean United Methodist Church.
Soon is now in Heaven, reunited with her husband, Robert Noel, who passed away earlier this year.
Soon is survived by her son, JooWon Kim; her step-children, Lee Ann Kwiatkowski and Alvin Hoffman; her grandchildren, SangHoon, SangHyun, Kami, Kaci, Samantha, Ryan, Robert, Marcus, Matthew; and one great-grandchild, Elliot.
The family would like to thank all of the wonderful friends who visited Soon and filled her days with love following Bob’s passing earlier this year, with a special thanks to Kim Chong, who treated Soon like a sister.
Funeral Services for Soon will be held on Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Bruch-Hansen Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.
