Ann Hochstedler

Ann Nissley Hochstedler was born on April 23, 1934, to Chris and Sarah (Yoder) Nissley. She was the 5th of 14 children. At the time, her family was living in Anderson County, Kansas. When Ann was 9 years old, her family moved to the Kalona area, attending Fairview Mennonite Church, where Ann committed herself to following Jesus and was baptized and became a member at age 12. Around this time, her parents bought a beautiful farm across from the Welsh Church on what is now the old Highway 1. When she was 18, her parents relocated to Florida, and Ann had to decide if she was going along. She and her sister, Mary, decided to stay in Iowa. During this time, Ann worked at the University Hospital in central sterilizing, getting all the instruments ready for surgery. Although she missed her family, she loved this job!

One of the reasons Ann chose to stay in Iowa was that she was dating a handsome young farmer named Jonas Hochstedler. They were married on Christmas Day, 1955. In 1956, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Jonas needed to serve in 1-W service, in lieu of military service. There, two sons were born.

In 1959, Ann, Jonas, and their two little boys moved back to the Kalona area, where they purchased a beautiful dairy farm in the rolling hills on Angle Rd, where Ann and Jonas raised their six children. Ann was very involved in running the farm, helping to milk the cows twice a day, among many other farm chores. She raised most of the food her family needed in a massive garden and spent her summers canning and freezing. She was a master cook and her children enjoyed many delectable desserts such as Hot Fudge, Rhubarb Dessert, Caramel Dumplings, and the best of all, homemade cinnamon rolls every Sunday morning for breakfast.

Ann was also a master seamstress. She dressed her children in beautifully handmade clothes she designed herself. She even made sure her daughters’ baby dolls had lovely handmade outfits. How she managed to spend 28 hours in the barn every week, keep her house immaculate, volunteer at church, keep her mammoth garden weed-free, and still have time to care about her little daughters’ clothes for their dolls tells the story of the kind of care and love she poured out on her children. And she did all this work with a smile on her face and kindness in her actions.

Ann's life was guided by her deep love for the Lord and a fierce determination to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. She modeled for her family what it looks like to be formed by the love of God. She refused to harbor bitterness and practiced forgiveness. She blazed a path for her children and grandchildren that demonstrated deep reverence and trust in God. This has had a lasting eternal impact on her children and grandchildren.

Ann was a wonderful hostess and hosted literally hundreds of people over the years, including many out-of-state relatives and friends, and many local friends for Sunday dinner. Her favorite visitors were her children and grandchildren, who all LOVED a visit to Grandma’s house! She was a wonderful and dearly loved Grandma!

In 1981, Ann began cleaning houses in Iowa City, which she continued until 2020, when she was 86. At one point, she was cleaning 19 houses on a weekly/biweekly basis!

Ann was a member of Sunnyside Mennonite Church, and served in many capacities, including teaching Sunday School, MYF youth sponsor, sewing committee, food committee, and the MCC committee. Ann loved gardening, sewing, crocheting, traveling and bird watching. She and Jonas traveled all over the United States and made many wonderful memories together.

Ann is survived by 3 sons and their wives: Darwin & Gloria, Kevin & Shirley, and Scott & Linette; 3 daughters and their husbands: Dawn & Bob Stauffer, Sandra & Gregg Straits, and Lynette & Tim Schrader; 3 grandsons, 15 granddaughters, 11 great-grandchildren and 2 step great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, 6 sisters, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jonas of nearly 70 years, her parents, 5 siblings, and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Stauffer.

Ann will best be remembered for her deep faith in a loving God, for serving her husband and family selflessly for seventy years, for her great love for her children and grandchildren, and for being a prayer warrior. Our mother showed us the way to live in this broken world with overflowing joy, courage and love.

A celebration of life service will be 12:00 pm Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Kalona. A private family burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. Memorial funds have been established for Pleasantview Home or Sunnyside Mennonite Church Misson. Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is caring for Ann and her family.