Fredericksburg Amish Community Mourns Jonas E. Hochstetler, 85

Jonas E. Hochstetler, 85, a longtime member of the Old Order Amish church in Fredericksburg, passed away on November 16, 2025. The obituary published November 19 lists his wife Sara among the survivors and notes that he is also survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family held a service at their residence on November 19 and arranged burial at Troyer Cemetery.

The funeral arrangements followed local Amish custom in which services are often conducted at the family home. Those practices underscore the communal nature of bereavement in Fredericksburg, where close family ties and neighbor support are central. The family thanked neighbors and Ohio's Hospice for their assistance during his final days, indicating a network of informal and formal care in the community.

Hochstetler's death touches a broad swath of relatives and neighbors, reflecting multigenerational households that are common in Old Order Amish communities. At age 85 he had lived through decades of local change while remaining rooted in the patterns of community life that define much of rural Holmes County. The obituary listing of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren signals both a personal legacy and the continuation of family lines that sustain local farms, businesses and community institutions.

For residents of Fredericksburg the notice serves as a reminder of the county's social fabric, where neighbors frequently provide day to day support and local health services such as Ohio's Hospice partner with families at the end of life. Community-led funerals held at family residences allow neighbors to participate directly in caregiving and memorial rites, and burials at small local cemeteries such as Troyer Cemetery maintain connections to family plots and local history.

Practical considerations for neighbors and those wishing to extend condolences will typically follow the customs and preferences of the family and their church community. The obituary does not list public visitation or memorial arrangements beyond the family service and burial date, and the family requested acknowledgment of the support they received from neighbors and Ohio's Hospice.

As Fredericksburg reflects on the passing of a member of its Old Order Amish congregation, the event highlights the role of family networks and local care providers in managing end of life needs. The funeral and burial held November 19 marked the conclusion of local rites for Mr. Hochstetler, leaving a surviving household centered on his wife Sara and multiple descendants who will carry forward family ties in the community.