Holmes County Farmer John Hochstetler Remembered for Lifetime of Service

John L. Hochstetler, 92, a longtime Millersburg farmer and active member of the Amish Church, died peacefully on Dec. 23, 2025. Born March 17, 1933, Mr. Hochstetler spent his life working the land, taking part in local gatherings, and maintaining the rhythms of rural life that shape much of Holmes County.

His marriage to Anna Mae Stutzman, who survives him, anchored a family that continued his agricultural tradition. Survivors include daughters Carol Hochstetler and Rita Miller, son Joseph Hochstetler and their spouses, and grandchildren Audrey, Haley and Landon. He was preceded in death by his son Daniel and several siblings. The family held funeral services on Dec. 27, followed by burial in Hochstetler Cemetery. Miller Funeral Care of Walnut Creek handled arrangements, and the obituary expresses the family’s gratitude to Ohio’s Hospice and to neighbors who offered support.

Mr. Hochstetler’s life reflected the interconnected nature of farming, faith and community in rural Holmes County. As a lifelong farmer, he contributed directly to the local agricultural economy and helped sustain the patterns of land stewardship and labor that support neighboring farms, markets and informal community networks. His participation in community gatherings and church life also exemplified the social infrastructure that residents rely on for mutual aid and shared civic life.

For local residents, the passing of a nonagenarian farmer is both a personal loss for family and neighbors and a marker of generational transition in the county’s rural landscape. Families like the Hochstetlers maintain property and local knowledge across decades; their departures draw attention to succession of land, continuity of local institutions and the informal support systems neighbors provide in times of illness and bereavement.

The acknowledgement of Ohio’s Hospice and neighborly assistance in the obituary highlights how end-of-life care and community support intersect in rural settings, where formal services and personal relationships work together. Miller Funeral Care of Walnut Creek oversaw the arrangements, conducting a funeral that brought family and community members together to recognize a life rooted in work, faith and local ties.

Mr. Hochstetler’s survivors will carry forward the family’s presence in Millersburg and the surrounding countryside, sustaining connections that are central to community identity in Holmes County.