Edwin Hostetler

Edwin R. Hostetler, 90, of Kalona, died Saturday, December 5, 2020, at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona. A private family service will be held Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at 10:00 AM at the Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Kalona.  The service will be available via livestream at the Beatty Peterseim Facebook Page.  Private burial will follow at the South Gingerich Cemetery.  Public visitation will be held Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at the Sunnyside Mennonite Church from 2 – 4 PM.  The family will not be present, masks are required, and social distancing guidelines will be enforced. A memorial fund has been established for the Sunnyside Mennonite Church, Pleasantveiw Home Building Fund, and Iowa city Hospice.  The Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences can be left at peterseimfuneralhome.com.

Edwin Ray Hostetler was born December 8, 1929, in Kalona, Iowa, the son of Alvin J. and Ida (Miller) Hostetler.  He served in PAX in Germany after World War 2. Edwin was united in marriage to Susie Anna Helmuth in 1955.  Susie Anna died in 2002, and on January 1, 2005, he married Susie J. (Schlabach) Yoder.

Edwin’s quiet love for Jesus was profound and showed in many ways and influenced his life and family. He was a gentle, caring person who always had time and kind words for the people he met. Edwin lived and worked his entire life in the Kalona area, where he farmed along with working in feed sales at the local Kent Feeds store. Edwin and his family spent a year in Albert Lea, MN in the early 70’s, where he followed a call to help with church planting work in that community. After retiring, Edwin and Susie Anna cleaned houses and businesses together in the Iowa City area until Susie Anna’s death. Edwin enjoyed mowing lawns, watching birds, doing puzzles, traveling and spending time with his family. Edwin was a long-time member of the Sunnyside Mennonite Church, where he served faithfully in various capacities. He also served on the Iowa Mennonite School board, and worked with a local prison ministry.

Survivors include his wife Susie of Kalona, seven children: Joy Hostetler of Sanford, FL, Lynn (Janice) Hostetler of Kalona, Merle (Mary) Hostetler of Goshen, IN, Keith Hostetler of Kalona, Jeryl (Jill) Hostetler of Archbold, OH, Sheryl (Frank) Moreland of Kalona, Ryan (Anita) Hostetler of Mechanicsburg, OH, 17 grandchildren: Erica Hostetler, Tony (Mary) Hostetler, Kerri Hostetler, Reggie (Payton) Hostetler, Ian Hostetler, Austin Hostetler, Celia Hostetler, Ireland Hostetler, Phelan Hostetler, Tanner (Alex) Frey, Lauren (Ryan) Wassink, Kamryn Hostetler, Karsyn Hostetler, Sydney Moreland, Allison Moreland, Kiyomi Hostetler, Shannon Hostetler,

Three great-grandchildren: Beckett Hostetler, Nicholas Hostetler, Braelynn Frey, and three siblings: Leslie Hostetler of Kalona, IA, Emma Jean Miller of Kalona, IA and Joe (Norma) Hostetler of Hesston, KS.

Preceding Edwin in death were his parents, his first wife, an infant sister Ruth Ann, a sister Mary Kathryn Brenneman, and in-laws Gaylord Brenneman, Monroe Miller, and Emma Hostetler.