Eldon E Hostetler

In Loving Memory Of
Eldon E. Hostetler

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, October 16, at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford, with Pastor Dave Miller officiating. A private family burial will be held prior to services at Blue Mound Cemetery. In lieu of visitation, the family will remain in the fellowship hall after the luncheon from 2-4 pm for those who would like to have an opportunity to visit with the family. Memorials have been established to the MCC Meat Canning Project or to the People's City Mission.

Eldon Eugene Hostetler was born November 9, 1926, on a farm near Beaver Crossing, Nebraska to Elbert and Clara (Burkey) Hostetler, the second of six children, and passed away Sunday, October 12, 2014, in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 1 day.

He was educated in the District 80 Country School near Beaver Crossing. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Master and was baptized as a member of the West Fairview Mennonite Church in 1937. In 1957, Eldon and Eileen became charter members of Bellwood Mennonite Church, where he served in many capacities, including Board of Elders, Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, and boys club leader.

On August 15, 1948, he was united in marriage to Eileen Ehrman at Roseland, Nebraska. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1998 and were married 66 years at the time of his death. Three children, Bonnie, Roger and Marcia were born. In 1948, Eldon and Eileen began their farming career on the old Hostetler home place, which was purchased by his grandfather in 1903. Eldon and Eileen lived on the same farm that has been farmed by 4 generations, transitioning into now 5 generations. In 1990, they moved into Milford where he resided until his passing.

Eldon first served in the Mennonite Volunteer Service in 1946-47, serving in maintenance at M.C.C. Headquarters in Akron, Pennsylvania. An avid supporter of Mennonite Disaster Service, MCC Meat Canning and the Et Cetera Store, Eldon helped people however he could. From 1980 to 1990, Eldon and Eileen spent the winter months in Winter Voluntary Service, sponsored by the Mennonite Board of Missions, serving in Macon, Mississippi, Indianapolis, Indiana, Tucson, Arizona, Columbia, South America, and in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Eldon performed carpentry and home repair in many of these poverty stricken areas. For two years, he served one day a week in repair and remodeling work at the People's City Mission in Lincoln. After retiring, Eldon spent much time researching and writing on subjects such as church and Milford history. He was the founder and President of the Nebraska "Old Mennonite" Historical Society and editor of the Nebraska Mennonite Historical Newsletter. He was a lifetime member of the Seward County Historical Society, a member of the Seward County Genealogical Society, the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Mennonite Historical Society and was a member and writer for the Jacob Hochstetler Family Association Newsletter. Eldon was an author of many books and publications, including, "A Good Place To Be From", "Pioneer Farmers In Faithful Evangelism", "The Bellwood Story", books on Milford history include, "The Way It Was" and "Early Milford People Stories" and his final two books, "What You Always Wanted To Know About Milford History", and "A Good Place To Be From - The Milford Mennonite Story", which were completed shortly before his death. Eldon spent his later years writing a weekly column for the Milford Times Newspaper. He truly enjoyed spending hours and days helping people seeking genealogy and other information about their past family histories.

Eldon is survived by his wife, Eileen, Milford, children and spouses, Bonnie Hostetler, Omaha, Roger and Holly Hostetler, Milford, Marcia and Rex Van Andel, also of Milford, five grandchildren, Chris and Jessica Hostetler, Overland Park, KS, Michael and Krista Hostetler, Beaver Crossing, Jill and Chad Drake, Lincoln, Corey and Valerie Hostetler, Fairfield, CA, Doug and Christie Van Andel, Lincoln, five great-grandchildren, sisters and brothers-in-law, Wilma Phelps, Hesston, KS, Margie Swartzendruber, also of Hesston, Vada and Gene Clemens, Elizabethtown, PA, Robin Reed, Wales, WI, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Helen and Harold Hilger, Hastings, Eleanor Ehrman, Roseland, NE, Paul DeVoe, several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Edith Reed and Leila DeVoe, brothers-in-law, Richard Ehrman, Bob Phelps, Wayne Swartzendruber.