Clair Hochstetler

Clair Eugene Hochstetler, 76, of Dexter, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2026, at Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset, Iowa.

He was born February 8, 1950, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Francis Bruce and Mary Dorothy (Morrissey) Hochstetler. Clair graduated from Earlham Community High School in 1968 and attended Iowa State University for two years before entering the service. On February 20, 1971, he was united in marriage to Patricia Lynn Golightly at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Winterset.

Clair served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1977, serving in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972 stationed at Da Nang Air Base as a helicopter radio repairman. For his honorable and dedicated service, he was awarded the Quilt of Valor in 2016.

Following his military tour, Clair worked for Harvestore in Adel before returning to Iowa State University to complete his education, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science. After spending a year working on a dairy farm, he returned to Harvestore while making his home in Dexter, Iowa.

In 1979, Clair began farming on his own, renting land near his parents in Penn Township. Through the hardships of the 1980s farm crisis, his grit, hard work, and steadfast determination carried him through, eventually allowing him to purchase the family farm. He was proud to see the farm recognized as an Iowa Heritage Farm in 2018, and he had just completed the 2026 harvest alongside his son.

Deeply invested in his rural community, Clair served on the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Board in Earlham, the Madison County Extension Council, and was a longtime Madison County 4-H leader for the Penn Prizewinners. He also dedicated 20 years of service to the Madison County Fair Board.

While farming was his life’s work, family was his greatest joy. Clair made every effort to attend his children’s and grandchildren’s activities and took immense pride in watching his grandchildren grow into young adults.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Patricia; his children, Tim (Jennifer) Hochstetler, Pam (Thomas) Fagen, Katherine Hochstetler, and Amanda (Craig) Wahlert; seven grandchildren, Spencer, Meridith, and Sarah Hochstetler, Josie and Wyatt Fagen, and Daphna and Ailey Wahlert. He is also survived by his sister, Ann (Ken) McKibbin of Riverside; brother, Stephen (Mayumi) Hochstetler of Honolulu, Hawaii; sister-in-law, Paulette Hochstetler of Grimes; brothers-in-law, Michael Golightly of Earlham and Anthony (Malissa) Golightly of Indianola; along with several cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Clair was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mary Hochstetler, and his brother, Dennis Hochstetler.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM, Thursday, November 12, 2026 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel, with visitation held prior, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Burial with military honors will follow at Penn Center Cemetery, rural Earlham.

Memorials may be directed to the family for a future designation.