Gerald Ellsworth Hostetler

Midwest Farmer For Many Years

Gerald Ellsworth Hostetler, 92, of Rolling Prairie, Ind., died August 28 at Miller’s Merry Manor in New Carlisle, Ind. Mr Hostetler was born November 3, 1913, in Wills Township, La Porte County, Ind.. to Gabriel and Maggie (Bunton) Hostetler.

He is survived by his wife Mary; two sons, Ken and his wife, Barbara, of Newtown and Norman and his wife, Charlotte, of Walkerton, Ind.; two daughters, Marilyn Hodosi of Greenwood, Ind., and Judy McIntosh and her husband, Dennis, of Sellersburg, Ind.; a stepson, Joe Hostetler and his wife, Kris, of Parker, Colo.; two stepdaughters, Mary Jo Beck and her husband, Jack, of Benton, Ind.. and Edna Feran of North Charleston, S.C.; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; and several step-great- and great-great-grandchildren. Mr Hostetler was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris Arnes; four sisters; seven brothers; and two great-grandsons.

Mr Hostetler was a self-employed farmer. After retiring from the farm, he worked as a custodial engineer for Austenal, Allis Chalmers and Modine. He was a member of the Sauktown Church of Christ, Gleaners, the Farm Bureau, and served on the cemetery board of Sauktown and Oak Grove Cemeteries.

A funeral service was scheduled for September 1 at the Cutler Funeral Home in La Porte, Ind., with the Revs Howard Simmons and Ronald Devenport officiating, with interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, Mill Creek, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sauktown Church of Christ, 8751 East 150, Mill Creek IN 46365; Mill Creek Baptist Church, 4241 West State Road 56, Salem IN 47167; or Miller’s Merry Manor, 220 East Dunn Road, New Carlisle IN 46552.

The Newtown Bee       September 1, 2006