Shirleen Joy Hochstedler

Shirleen Joy Hochstedler, 88, died peacefully on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at Greencroft Health Care.

Shirleen Joy (Oswald) Hochstedler was born June 20, 1938, in LaGrange County at the home of her parents, Raymond and Esther (Morningstar) Oswald. She grew up in Goshen, Indiana and went to schools in Goshen, Benton, New Paris, and graduated from Bethany Christian High School in 1956. She was a student at Goshen College and a graduate of Elkhart Beauty College. She loved being a student in her adult years and always enjoyed learning experiences and interacting with both her professors and other students. She also was a member and discussion leader in Bible Study Fellowship for eleven years and taught Sunday School and Bible School classes in the churches where they were members and also enjoyed continued interaction, learning from and writing bible studies over the years for teenagers and adults.

On June 23, 1956, she married John Allen Hochstedler and together they had three children. Jeffrey David-(Beverly Pettiford) Hochstedler; Jeryl Allen-(Patricia Cross) Hochstedler; and Gwenolyn Dawn Hochstedler-(Rodney) Diller. Six grandchildren: Brad (Laura Stewart) - Hochstedler, Cherry Hochstedler-(Shawn) Miller. Adam (Jennifer Meade)-Hochstedler, Danae Hochstedler-(Justin) Bell, John-(Sara Friedline) Diller, and Matthew Diller; twelve great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Nathan, Gavin, Delilah, Emma, Holden, Eliza, Evart, Ellie, James, Ethan and Wesley.

Shirleen's parents and their son Jeffrey preceded her in death, and most recently her devoted husband John on July 23, 2026. She has four living brothers: Wesley (Mary Jo Cender) Oswald in Texas, Jay Lee Oswald in South Carolina, Victor Oswald in Florida, Roger (Elvira Widner). Oswald in Georgia, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She always considered her family and many friends a gift from the Lord and treasured each one in all their differences in what they brought to her life to make it unique. She also considered her husband's family her own and appreciated the closeness they shared with each other as well as their faith in God which bound them together.

Shirleen enjoyed creating with her embroidery machine making Nantucket Baskets and reading, but her life centered around working along with her husband, John in Hochstedler Home Improvement as well as helping him in his other efforts, including being Directors of The Voluntary Service Program for senior adults in Tucson, AZ in 1985 -86. Together they tried to live out their common faith in God to benefit their employees and their community; but her favorite times were spent doing things for her family, friends and church.

Her desire is that any memorial gifts go to Brenneman Missionary Church Missions Fund, 61115 SR 15, Goshen, IN 46528.

A private family burial will take place at a future date.

Yoder Culp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.