Lydia Mae Hochstedler

Kalona-Lydia Mae Hochstedler was born June 3, 1929, in Kalona, Iowa.  The daughter of Sam G. and Elizabeth (Otto) Hochstedler. She attended West Lincoln School.  In her youth she accepted Christ and was baptized and became a member of Fairview Mennonite Church.  She took L.P.N. nurses training in La Junta, Colorado and a 6 month post grad course at Baylor University, Texas.  She worked 6 years under Northern Light Gospel Mission at Red Lake, Ontario as a nurse among the First Nations people in several different Bush areas, where mission families lived.  Most places were only reached by airplane.  During her nursing work she went by boat across the lake to the Indian homes.  Lydia attended several 6 week Bible Schools or Institutes, one being in Three Hills, Alberta Canada.  She also spent a year in Costa Rica as a nurse,  living by the Caribbean Sea in a house on stilts .  The nurses held clinics in several places traveling by a Ladies Honda (motorcycle).  When she returned home Lydia worked at Mercy Hospital, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, along with caring for her sisters and ailing father. In the last few weeks Lydia has become the oldest member of Fairview Mennonite Church.  Lydia died Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics at the age of 93 years.

Lydia is survived by her six siblings, Martha Helmuth, Jonas (Ann) Hochstedler all of Kalona, Monroe (Ruby) Hochstedler of Tallahassee, FL, Darlene (John) Miller of Hutchinson, KS, Nelson (Lavina) Hochstedler of Winona Lake, Indiana and Viola Hochstedler of Kalona. Also surviving are 39 nieces and nephews as well as 212 great nieces and nephews and 270 great-great nieces and nephews , and one great-great-great nephew.  She was preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings, Ruth Hochstedler, Cora Hochstedler, Alta Fern Kropf, J. Wesley Hochstedler, Verna Hochstedler, Mary Alice Hochstedler and Lovina Hochstedler.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 am on Monday, November 28, 2022 at the Fairview Mennonite Church near Kalona.  Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona.  A memorial fund has been established for Water for Life.  Messages and tributes may be directed to www.powwllfuneralhomes.com