Ellen E. Hochstedler, 83, of Kalona, passed from this life Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at her home. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at Kalona Mennonite Church. The service will be available via Livestream at the Beatty Peterseim website, Facebook and YouTube Pages. Burial will follow at Sharon Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, from 3 – 7 p.m., at the Kalona Mennonite Church in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Hospice of Washington County.
Ellen Elizabeth (Spenner) Hochstedler was born Sept. 1, 1941, in Washington County, Iowa, the daughter of William “Bill” Lee and Mabel Lubell (Wallace) Spenner. She graduated from Kalona High School. On May 14, 1966, she was united in marriage to Donald Hochstedler at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City.
Ellen was a postal clerk at the Kalona Post Office for 36 years and after retirement worked at the Kalona Historical Village for five years. She was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, served as a 4-H leader and was a member of Idris Club. Ellen enjoyed flower gardening, quilting, reading, doing puzzles and playing cards. Her greatest joy was her family, and she rarely missed her kids or grandkids events.
Survivors include two children: Duane Hochstedler (Julie Cole) of Kalona and Diane Hochstedler (Tod Kahler) of Kalona; two grandchildren: Michael (Brianna) Callahan of Washington and Hannah (Pascal) Fifi of Johnston; three great-grandchildren: Amani Fifi and Karsyn and Emersyn Callahan; three brothers: Robert (Janet) Spenner of Riverside, Donald Spenner of Mt. Pleasant, and John (Arlene) Spenner of Riverside.
Preceding Ellen in death were her parents; her husband on May 15, 2024; an infant brother; and sister-in-law: Karen Spenner.
