Gerald F. “Jerry” Hochstein
Jerry Hochstein
HARTINGTON — Gerald F. “Jerry” Hochstein, 89, Hartington, died Feb. 17, 2023, at the Arbor Care Center, Hartington.
Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 21 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating. Services were also live streamed at www.facebook.com/WintzRay/ live.
Traditional visitation and a vigil service were Monday, at church, and continued Tuesday morning one hour prior to services. Cremation occurred after the Mass and burial of his cremated remains will be at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Fordyce, at a later date.
Pallbearers were grandsons, Marcus Heithold, Sam Heithold, Ethan Hochstein, Seth Howell, Alex Heithold, Decker Heithold, Grant Howell, Grayden Hochstein, Quinn Hochstein and Grant Sitzman.
Honorary Pallbearers were granddaughters, Ashley Hochstein, Meghan Hochstein, Hillari Hugen and Kailyn Hochstein.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.
Gerald Francis was born May 3, 1933, in Fordyce, to Edmund Ludwig and Gertrude Alma (Kathol) Hochstein. He grew up in Fordyce and attended school in Fordyce until the tenth grade. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1950. After high school, Jerry began farming with his dad and then married Joan Marie Schwartz April 12, 1955, in Hartington. In 1958, he began farming south of Pleasant Valley, which is the home place. He raised livestock and grain. Jerry and Joan lived on the farm until moving into Hartington in 2004. Farming was always the love of Jerry’s life and continued to be active in the farming operation even after moving into town.
Jerry was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the 4th Degree Knights, National Cattleman’s Association, National Corn Growers Association, and the American Soybean Association. Jerry loved to bowl and was a member of the 800 Series Club with an 807 series in 1998. He was a Pioneer and Dekalb Seed Corn salesman. He received the Outstanding Young Farmer award Dec. 8, 1959. He was involved in 4-H his entire life. He also played baseball and softball until he was 56 years old. Jerry golfed and was a member of the Hole-in-One Club having had two holes-in-one. He was a former Hartington Golf Invitational Champion.
Jerry and Joan loved to travel and several of their trips were to Australia and New Zealand and numerous other locations. He was always ready to come back to the farm sooner than later.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Joan, Hartington; five children, Pam Howell, Hartington; Frank (Andrea) Hochstein, Hartington; Brad Hochstein (Katie VanBuren), Hutchinson, Kan.; Deb (Mark) Sitzman, Scottsbluff; John (Rebecca) Hochstein, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Norma Sparks, Socorro, N.M., and Deanna “Toots” Lockman, Norfolk; and many nieces and nephews.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Gertrude Hochstein; two infants, Mary and Gerard; a brother, Richard “Dick” Hochstein; and a sister, Alice Hochstein.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be directed to the Cedar Catholic High School Endowment Fund.