Hostetler, Lester (1892-1989)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1995 Aug 3 p. 5

Birth date: 1892 Apr 25

text of obituary:

Hymnal Co-Editor, Longtime Minister Dies in Goshen

Goshen, Ind.—Lester Hostetler, co-editor of two Mennonite hymnals and longtime General Conference Mennonite Church minister, died July 23 at Greencroft Nursing Center here. He was 97.

Hostetler was co-editor with W. H. Hohmann of The Mennonite Hymnary (1940) and editor of 101 Hymns from the Mennonite Hymnary (1947) and The Youth Hymnary (1956). His Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary (1949) sought "to explain, as far as possible, the origin of the words and music of every hymn in the hymnary." He was also co-editor with Walter E. Yoder of The Mennonite Hymnal (1969).

He was also pastor of Mennonite churches in Ohio, California, Kansas and South Dakota. He served First Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, Ohio; Walnut Creek (Ohio) Mennonite Church; Walnut Creek Reformed Church; First Mennonite Church, Upland, Calif.; Bethany Mennonite Church, Freeman, S. D.; and Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, Kan.

He served with Mennonite Central Committee in Berlin, 1950-1951.

He was a graduate of Goshen College and Union Theological Seminary, New York.

Hostetler was also an orchard grower and a piano technician.

He was born April 25, 1892, at Sugarcreek, Ohio. He was married to Charity Steiner in June 1918 in Columbus Grove, Ohio. The Hostetlers moved to Goshen in March 1980. She died in February 1987.

Survivors include two daughters, Alice (Mrs. Gerald) Kreider of Goshen, Dorothy (Mrs. Norman) Dyck of Media, Pa.; one son, Hugh S. Hostetler of Three Rivers, Mich.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son.

Funeral services were held July 27 at First Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, Ohio, with Ed Mooney officiating. Burial was in Union Hill Cemetery, Sugarcreek.

The Mennonite obituary: 1989 Sep 12 p. 424