Kenneth D. Hochstedler

KALONA ? Kenneth D. ?Kenny? Hochstedler, 80, of Kalona, died Thursday, July 23, 2015, in Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m., Monday, July 27, at the Kalona Methodist Church in Kalona. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Joetown. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. The family will greet friends from 1 to 4 and 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established for Kalona First Responders and Kalona Golf Club.

Mr. Hochstedler was born Feb. 3, 1935, the son of Emery R. and Ada (Miller) Hochstedler. He married Virginia Potter on Nov. 24, 1957, at the Kalona Methodist Church. She preceded him in death, in 2004. He married Lana Reid on July 14, 2012, at the First Christian Church in Coralville.

He was the founder of Hochstedler Insurance Agency in Kalona and an upstanding member of the local business community. He led the agency for 43 years before retiring in 2004 and entrusting the business to his son Kevin. Farming and the outdoors were in his blood. He grew up on a farm, owned a farm and loved spending time outside. He was known to many for his love of a ?good pond,? either in his yard in Kalona or on his land near Joetown. Ringing the bell and feeding the fish each day brought him much joy. He was an active member in many local organizations throughout his life, such as the Iowa Miniature Horse Association, Rotary, Masonic Lodge, VFW, Kalona Golf Course, the Independent Insurance Association, and more. Nothing provided him more joy than the activities of his grandchildren. He was the No. 1 fan at many volleyball, soccer, and 4-H events, and band and chorus concerts.

Surviving are his wife, Lana, of Kalona; two sons, Randy Hochstedler and wife Linda of Marion, and Kevin Hochstedler and wife Beth of Iowa City; one daughter, Michelle Bates and Ann Camblin of Coralville; four stepchildren, Jeff Woodburn and wife Dawn of Marion, Tim Woodburn and wife Angie of Rochester, Minn., Pat Woodburn and spouse Kelly of West Branch, and Amy Sauser of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; two brothers, Lyle Hochstedler and wife Marilyn of Kalona, and Marvin D. Hochstedler and wife Christine of Iowa City; and one sister, Marjorie Slabaugh of Kalona.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Virginia Hochstedler; and one brother-in-law, Dave Slabaugh.