Daniel E. Hochstetler

The service will be livestreamed. This link will go live 5 to 10 minutes prior to the service.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3798171524?pwd=eWpFZUR6bDBFOG1zUXROclhERzRmZz09

“I have fought a good fight,

I have finished my course,

I have kept the faith.”

II Timothy 4-7

Daniel Elmer Hochstetler was born on May 11, 1935, seven miles east of Goshen in Clinton Township, to Elam S. Hochstetler and Eliza A. (Bender) Hochstetler. He died on March 16, 2026, at Greencroft Healthcare of natural causes. He was 90 years old. Dan spent nearly 66 years married to Arie (Miller) Hochstetler who survives him, who he called “the light of my life”. Their children are Ken (Sue) Hochstetler, Kathy Hochstetler (Roger Hoover), Linda Hochstetler (Richard Clark), Lois Hochstetler, and Cheryl (Steve) Hochstetler Shirk. They have seven grandchildren – Eliza (Seth Gingerich), Caleb Hochstetler, Adrian Clark, Archer Whitman, Katie (Jonathon) Shirk Snyder, Sam Fisher, and Coyote Fisher – and two great-grandchildren, Owen and Wyatt Gingerich.

He is also survived by sister Marietta (Jonathon) Stoltzfus and brother Joseph (Patricia). He was preceded in death by brothers Laban (Agnes), Samuel (Clara), Noah (Loretta), and Walter (Frances); sisters Miriam (Harvey Graber, Orie Schrock), Esther (David Herschberger), and Rhoda; and granddaughter-in-law Hannah Grieser Hochstetler.

Dan spent most of his working life as a schoolteacher, first for Clinton Christian School and then in Montana teaching in two Hutterite colonies. After the family returned to Goshen, he taught at York Elementary School and Heritage Middle School. He completed his master’s degree, helped pioneer regional outdoor education at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Michigan in 1971, and spent a year teaching in a public school in Brownsville, Texas as part of Mennonite Voluntary Service. Dan really enjoyed seeing his former students around Goshen, Middlebury, and Greencroft and remembered many of them by name to the end.

But work was not Dan’s primary passion. One priority was his lifelong faith and his church commitment. He was born into an Amish farm family and baptized in the Amish church, then with most of their church and family transitioned into the new Woodlawn Amish Mennonite Church. After he graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in 1960 with a degree in Bible and Philosophy, he and Arie married. In 1967 they and their children moved to the Gospel Lighthouse, and since 1978 took active part in East Goshen Mennonite Church. He and Arie were active in Gideons International from 1972, including in the state cabinet for 6 years.

In another life, Dan might have been a professional historian, as church and family history came to occupy more of his time after he retired in 1994. In 1988 he cofounded the Jacob Hochstetler Family Association, named after his Swiss immigrant forebear, who came to the United States in 1738. He was on its board and edited its newsletter for several decades and helped to organize several national meetings of the group. Dan wrote and edited several books of family genealogy and history and additional writings. In many settings, he could tell people how they were related and where they came from. After being a charter member of the Michiana Anabaptist Historians, he became the Conference Historian for the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Church from 1996-2002, and he was East Goshen’s congregational historian for many years. He was also a Pennsylvania Deitsch Society committee member. He moved boxes of books and papers to Greencroft and continued to work on them there.

Traveling to Hillcrest, Arkansas at the age of 17, then working at Hillcrest Home for two years in Alternative Service, helped nourish Dan’s lifelong interest in getting to know new places and people. Travel was a way to do both and he went as many places as he could, including to Mennonite World Conferences in Winnipeg and Amsterdam. He traveled to all 50 American states, celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with Arie in their 50th state, Hawaii. That was a highlight for both, as was their trip to the Middle East. Among other travel, Dan made two treasured visits to Jacob Hochstetler’s starting point near Berne, Switzerland, one with son Ken and grandson Caleb. Dan and Arie visited Cheryl and Steve and their children in both Ukraine and Mozambique.

~ Visitation / Viewing 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm, Saturday March 21, 2026; at East Goshen Mennonite Church, 2019 E. Lincoln Ave, Goshen IN 46528

~ Burial 2 pm Sunday March 22 at Clinton Union Cemetery, 63576 Co Rd 35, Goshen, IN 46528 (entrance from CR 36).

~ Celebration of Life service 3 pm Sunday, at East Goshen Mennonite Church. A meal and sharing will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Gideons International or Mennonite Economic Development Associates.