Willard Lee Hochstetler, age 77, entered into the arms of Jesus, peacefully and unexpectedly on Monday morning, November 20, 2023 at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio.  He was born in Hicksville, Ohio on September 4, 1946 to Ervin W. and Lizzie Leora (Mullett) Hochstetler.  He married Janetta Eicher on October 27, 1967 in New Haven, Indiana

Surviving are his wife, Janetta Hochstetler of Hicksville, OH; his children and their spouses, Phillip & Rachel Hochstetler of Edon, OH, Mark & Mary Hochstetler of Westminster, SC, Randy & Lavertta Hochstetler of Grabill, IN, Regina & Nathan Coblentz of Hicksville, OH, Matthew & Naomi Hochstetler of St. Joe, IN and Charity & Timothy Coblentz of Hicksville, OH; 20 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; his brother and sister-in-law, Lonnie & Shirley Hochstetler of Shipshewana, IN; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Lengacher of Jamestown, PA, Sara & Harry Bender of Hicksville, OH and Ada & Vernon Beachy of Spencerville, IN and his sister-in-law, Leora Hochstetler of Hicksville, OH.

He was preceded in death by, his son, Joshua Jeremy Hochstetler; his granddaughter, Brittany Nicole Hochstetler; his brother and sister-in-law, Edward & Doris Hochstetler; his brother, William Hochstetler and his brother-in-law, LaVern Lengacher.

Willard worked as a construction worker, starting in 1968 at Klopfenstein Builders and retiring in 2016 from Timberlin Homes.

Willard was a member of Hicksville Christian Fellowship Church.  He was ordained as a minister on August 10, 1980 and retired from preaching in 2012.  He was also a Bishop in the Mennonite Church.  He loved to tell stories from his childhood.  And he loved to tinker with wood in his shop.

Calling will be held from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday (November 24, 2023) and from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday (November 25, 2023) at Hicksville Christian Fellowship, 3672 Buckskin Road in Hicksville, Ohio.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday (November 26, 2023) at Hicksville Christian Fellowship.  Officiating will be Andy Martin, Jadon Yoder, Melvin Roes and Tim Eicher.  Burial will be a Hicksville Christian Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Hicksville Christian Fellowship – to go to the family.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Austin Hochstetler, Tyler Hochstetler, Blake Hochstetler, Benjamin Hochstetler, Logan Hochstetler, Jordan Hochstetler, Madison Hochstetler, Trevor Hochstetler, Bradon Coblentz, Cameron Coblentz, Myles Coblentz and Bryson Coblentz.

Arrangements are by Carnahan-Baidinger & Walter Funeral Home of Spencerville, Indiana.

To view an online obituary or sign the guestbook, please visit cbwfuneralhome.com.