An expanded obituary project of
MennObits. Includes additional information of obituaries
appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers. Source of
individual obituaries given with each record. Project managed by
Thelma Martin.
2025
H2
Hoover, Esther W.
January 7, 1928 - January 15, 2025
Esther W. Hoover, 97, of Denver, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the Cocalico Christian Home. She was born in Ephrata, the daughter of the late Edwin Z. and Ella O. (Weaver) Hoover.
Esther was a member of Springville Mennonite Church, Ephrata. Prior to her retirement, she worked as a nurse for the Ephrata Community Hospital for many years.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by 10 siblings, Menno W. Hoover, Eli W. Hoover, Phares W. Hoover, Anna W. Hoover, Aaron W. Hoover, Emma W. Hoover, Esther W. Hoover, Mary W. Stauffer, Edwin W. Hoover, and Norman W. Hoover.
A viewing will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 5 to 8 PM at the Lincoln Christian Home, 1307 Apple St., Ephrata. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 21st, 10 AM, at the Springville Mennonite Church, 580 Springville Road, Ephrata. Burial will take place in the adjoining church cemetery.
Kindly omit flowers.
Arrangements by Roseboro Stradling Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., Denver.
Horst, Mervin Jay
September 12, 1941 - January 12, 2025
Mervin Jay Horst, age 83, of Dalton, died Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Aultman Hospital in Canton, following a period of declining health.
Mervin was born on September 12, 1941, to the late Ray and Rhoda (Burkhart) Horst and graduated from Dalton High School in 1959. He married Ardella R. Champ on September 10, 1965, in Petersburg, WV. Ardella died on October 17, 2002.
He worked his family farm and hauled milk for many years. He later worked at Mt. Eaton Elevator for 15 years, and after retiring, he drove for several Amish families in the area.
Mervin was a member of Chester Mennonite Church and he enjoyed visiting and talking with relatives and about relations.
Surviving are two sons, Clair (Yommala) Horst of Orrville and Merl Horst of Dalton; two siblings, Willis (June) Horst and Emma Kauffman; and a brother-in-law, Raul (Anna) Tadeo of Dalton.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Karl Jay Horst; siblings, Leonard Horst and Vanita Tadeo; sister-in-law, Eva Jane Horst; and brother-in-law, Paul Kauffman.
Friends may call on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at County Line Mennonite Church, 19199 Church Road, Dalton, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, at County Line Mennonite Church. Burial will take place at the County Line Church Cemetery.
Auble Funeral Home in Orrville is handling the arrangements.
Online registry and expressions of condolence may be made at www.aublefuneralhome.com.
Hostetter, Maria Kay Lehman
March 5, 1964 - January 12, 2025
Maria Kay Lehman Hostetter, 60, a resident of Harrisonburg, passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at WVU Berkley Medical Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Mrs. Hostetter was born on March 5, 1964 in Kankakee, IL and was a daughter of Mark Neff Lehman of Harrisonburg and the late Pauline Peachey Lehman.
Maria was the last of four siblings raised in Pembroke, Il where her parents pastored Rehoboth Mennonite church in a rural majority African American community. She then attended Bethany Christian High School in Goshen, IN where she graduated in 1982. She went on to attend Eastern Mennonite College where she studied Nursing, went on a half year Euro-term and played at least one year of softball. She graduated in 1986 with her BSN and was co-president of her graduating class. She passed her boards that summer and started working that fall for Dr. Michael Marsh and they later joined with Dr. Ron Schubert in Dayton.
Maria then moved to working more than 30 years at Rockingham Memorial Hospital– then Sentara RMH. She worked in the newborn nursery, emergency department (twice), critical care, dialysis, cath lab – along with both rehab departments. By far her favorite job was developing the Heart Check program for counseling people with preventative measures and proper screening to manage cardiovascular issues. She was instrumental in catching severe heart disease in a number of people who were able to have interventions which saved the lives of the patients.
She met her husband Steve at EMC where they had dated for 2 years and got married after her graduation on October 18th of 1986. They raised their two beautiful daughters Jessica and Malia in Broadway and then back in Harrisonburg where they built their present home. Maria so loved her girls, son-in-laws and 7 grandchildren, making them a priority to serve and care for. Her favorite travel destination was Germany to visit her sister Christine and husband Antione along with their 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
Maria had a deep commitment and faith in the Lord Jesus, serving him constantly and sharing her faith and convictions, often stocking bibles in the hospital and church foyer for anyone to take. She had an uncanny gift of discernment and determined to only seek and live out biblical truth at all times. Maria and Steve have been members of 4 incredible churches through the years -Grace Covenant, Cornerstone, Harrisonburg Mennonite and New Beginnings. They served part of a year in Bari, Italy when the girls were young, helping with developing a small church in the city. Maria found such joy the last nearly 4 years by she and Steve leading a very large “small group” at New Beginnings, making forever friends.
Maria loved her landscaping endeavors, flower beds, sewing and quilting retreats, and supper club. She was a rabid pickle ball player making so many friends who grieve deeply at losing her as a gentle yet fierce competitor. There is already a local tournament in the works for this summer created in honor of her. She loved the Shenandoah Valley with all the hiking, biking, canoeing and many walks that she and Steve enjoyed together. She valued her family and friends above all else and was generous with her time, money and possessions. She will be greatly missed by her Maltipoo, Hobbes, who continues to wait by the door expecting his mommy to come home any minute. She is so greatly missed by all who knew her.
On October 18, 1986, she married Steven Eugene Hostetter who survives.
Also surviving are her children, Jessica Arey and husband Andrew of Bridgewater, Malia Cobb and husband Brandon of Hackensack, New Jersey; siblings, Michael Lehman and wife Karen Call of Washington, Utah, Christine van den Assem and husband Antoine of Edelsfeld, Germany, David Lehman and wife Lavonne of Harrisonburg; and grandchildren, Titus Cobb, Sarai Cobb, Seneca Cobb, Julius Cobb, Layne Arey, Beau Arey, Anna Arey; and many amazing nieces and nephew in the USA and Germany. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Alice Hostetter and in-laws, Marie and Ken Showalter.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. Hostetter was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Sharon Lehman.
Pastors Scott Schneiderman of New Beginnings Church and Craig Maven of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church will conduct a memorial service on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at New Beginnings Church. Burial will be held privately.
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 24, 2025 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at New Beginnings Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to her “Grandchildren’s Christian Education Fund” at Park View Federal Credit Union, 1675 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802. Park View Federal Credit Union members may call 540-434-6444 or visit the bank to contribute.
McMullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.