Howard W. Hostetler

Howard W. Hostetler, age 94, of Hastings passed away June 21, 2017 after a long and satisfying life.

He was born July 28, 1922 in Bowne Township, Kent County, MI, son of Murl and Edna (Mishler) Hostetler. Howard was the third of seven children born into a farming family. He attended school(s) in the rural Freeport area and graduated from the eighth grade. He possessed astute math skills and a broad spectrum of real world skills. Growing up on the family farm during the great depression, sponsored many do-it-yourself activities and learning experiences in those days. Working the fields with horses, canning and drying meats and vegetables, the outdoor copper pot method of making many gallons of apple butter and so many more endeavors, filled those busy times. In his mid-teens, he would 'hire out' to local farmers doing more of the same. He remembered exactly where he was when the news came, that The Empire of Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. Rather than waiting to be drafted into the Army, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. He took his basic training in Gulfport, MS and later sailed from California under the Golden Gate Bridge headed for Hawaii. At Pearl Harbor he would acquire more training as a hardhat deep sea diver and was later deployed with the Seabees in the South Pacific. He dove on the sunken battleship Arizona while at Pearl.


After being honorably discharged from the Navy in December, 1945, he would return home to the Freeport area where he would continue his working career. He had many occupations with many employers over the years, along with self-employment. He bought equipment for sod laying and acquired work with state and local highway construction agencies. He owned and operated a Harley Davidson dealership in Hastings in the early 50's. He would also work at E.W. Bliss, Eaton's, the Sunoco station in Dowling, Sackets Garage in Hastings, Hastings Schools as a bus driver, Dowling Cemetery Sexton, farming, and the Barry County Road Commission from 1965 retiring in 1987. He was a hard worker and held two or more jobs during many years of his life, providing for his wife and family.

He met his future wife and love of his life, Elsie June Tobias in 1948 at Angelo's restaurant in Hastings. It was a chance meeting that resulted from their food orders getting mixed up. They were married in Goshen, IN on June 17, 1950, the bride's birthday.

Howard enjoyed many varied hobbies over the years, including gardening, yard games with the kids and family, model airplane flying, radio controlled vehicles, kites, cribbage, and the family board game 'Pollyanna', and much much more. He was very mechanically inclined and could fix anything. He spent many hours in his shop tweaking and reinventing things. On many occasions friends and neighbors would seek his help with challenging mechanical issues. He loved that.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his oldest brother Lawrence Hostetler and sister-in-law Beulah, brother Orlo Hostetler and sister-in-law Jean, brother Jim Hostetler, brother Gerald Hostetler, brother-in-law Art Ketchum, brother-in-law Bob Bauer, brother-in-law Basil Tobias and sister-in-law Fern, brother-in-law Merle Tobias and sister-in-law Wilhelmina.

Howard is survived by his wife of 67 years, Elsie, son Stan Hostetler (Patricia), daughter Jayne Mitchell, sister Edwina Burgess (Frank), sister Barb Bauer, sister-in-law, Jerilee Hostetler, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his faithful cat, Howie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Community and Volunteer Service (135)
5500 Armstong Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49037

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2017 from 6-8pm at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S. Broadway, Hastings. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 30, 2017 at 11:00 am, also at the funeral home.