Craig Allan Hosterman

Craig Allan Hosterman, of South Bend, IN, passed away on June 24, 2025, following a short illness. He was 81 years young. He is survived by his long-time partner, Dorothy Waggoner of South Bend, IN; his son, Alec Hosterman of Rice, VA; his brothers, Brice Hosterman of Bristol, IN and Mark Hosterman of Cincinnati, OH; his nephew Daniel Hosterman of Raleigh, NC; and numerous cousins. Craig was a son, cousin, brother, father, uncle, partner, teacher, colleague, and friend to many.
Craig was born on November 26, 1943, in South Bend, IN to Darwin and Betty Hosterman. As the oldest, he was the first in his family to attend and graduate from college: at Ball State University with a BA and MA in English and then at Kent State University with a Ph.D. in rhetoric and communication. From 1971 to 1978, Craig was married to Barbara Neu. On May 22, 1972, Craig and Barb had a son, Alec. Coincidentally, it was the same day he found his first gray hairs. To this day, Barb and Alec deny any connection between the two events.
The first half of Craig's career was spent in education, originally teaching high school in Marion, IN and Racine, WI. He then moved to the collegiate level, teaching at Glen Oaks Community College, Indiana University South Bend, and finally St. Mary's College. The second half of his career he worked in the advertising industry at several agencies, putting communication into practice for his clients.
In 1986 he began dating Dorothy Waggoner, his partner for almost 40 years. During their time together, they bought and refurbished a 19th century house, enjoyed regional art festivals, traveled, discovered new places to enjoy a meal, and have cared for more than a few feline friends.
Throughout his life, Craig had multiple hobbies and talents, like photography, writing, and restoring antiques. He loved photographing birds, classic cars, planes, and nature at places like Potawatomi Zoo, area nature preserves, animal sanctuaries, and car museums and expos. As family historian, he extensively detailed and compiled the roots of both the Hosterman and Leiser family trees, putting it down in book form. In his research, he found that our ancestors helped protect the Liberty Bell during the Revolutionary War and rode with Teddy Roosevelt on San Juan Hill. His artistic nature would often surface when he would purchase an antique, strip it to its essence, and then painstakingly polish it to reveal a beauty few could imagine. Craig also had the capability to draw and write poetry but never pursued those talents much, however they did show up in the books he gave family members or in the way he wrapped Christmas gifts.
To say Craig was also fascinated by the Santa Claus myth is an understatement. For the last four decades, he collected more than 250 unique hand-crafted Santas that he displayed at home. He also researched and self-published a book that traced the myth of Santa throughout the world and created www.santaswhiskers.com, a website that showcased his collection and discoveries.
For a good portion of his life, Craig was a talented baker and cook. But it wasn't until he retired that he really cultivated his talent in the kitchen, often trying new recipes and tweaking them to his and Dorothy's tastes. He would visit Martin's Supermarket almost daily for his recipes and inevitably knew the staff by name. He not only worried about taste, but also presentation. Often, he would post pictures of the day's delicacy on Facebook to make the rest of us jealous (and inspired). He was a chef in all the ways but certification. And in the evenings, Craig would unwind and enjoy a glass of bourbon to cap off the day, usually watching a movie or working on photos he took that week.
Germans say prost and the Irish say sláinte. Americans say cheers. However you celebrate, the best way to honor Craig is to enjoy a good meal, raise a glass in his memory, and tell your favorite story about him.
"The road is long and without end.
The days go on, I remember you my friend.
And though you're gone and my heart's been emptied it seems,
I'll see you in my dreams."
– I'll See You in My Dreams, Bruce Springsteen
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local zoo or animal sanctuary.
Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel has the honor of assisting the family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
To send flowers
to the family, please visit our floral store.