Wilma J (Hoeppner) Housholder

KENDALLVILLE — Wilma J. (Hoeppner) Housholder, 87, died peacefully around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, at Parkview Noble Hospital, where she had been a patient since Sunday night. A longtime resident of rural Avilla, she had resided at Lutheran Life Villages, Kendallville, since May 2014.  Mrs. Housholder was born Dec. 10, 1930, in Woodburn, Indiana, the sixth of nine children born to Fred and Lula (Obert) Hoeppner. She was a 1948 graduate of Elmhurst High School.

On May 27, 1950, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Avilla, she married Ralph G. Housholder, son of Herman and Ila (Hossinger) Housholder. Mr. Housholder preceded her in death on March 22, 1994. For many years, the couple enjoyed spending winters in Fort Myers, Florida.

Mrs. Housholder was a homemaker and bookkeeper for the family business, the Avilla Feed Mills Inc. She was a longtime active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Avilla, serving in the past as a Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher and church secretary. She was a member of the church choir, the Chancel Society, Married Couples Club, Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and the adult Sunday school class.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Gary and Sarah Housholder of Avilla; Terry and Grace Housholder of Kendallville; Jerry and Annie Housholder of Casselberry, Florida; and Wendy and Steve Rasp of Owatonna, Minnesota. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren: Dawn Housholder and Shane Housholder of Fort Wayne; John Housholder of Avilla; Dorothy Dankel of Bergen, Norway; Elizabeth Bapasola of Yardley, Pennsylvania; Catherine Reyes-Housholder of Santiago, Chile; Paul Housholder of Key West, Florida; Jacob Rasp, Rebecca Rasp and Ella Rasp, all of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Dan Coble of Orlando, Florida; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; a sister, Dolores Herdman of Fort Wayne; and a brother, Kenneth Hoeppner of Woodburn. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Thomas Bixby, and two sisters in-law, Peg Hoeppner and Vivian Householder.

Preceding her in death were her parents and husband and six siblings, Vivian Hoeppner, Phyllis Dunfee, Fred Hoeppner Jr., Lucille Busch, Carol Bixby and Ronald Hoeppner.

Calling will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday December16, 2017 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 113 W. Albion St., Avilla, with the funeral at the church at 11 a.m.

Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, northwest of Avilla.

Preferred memorials are to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Organ Fund.

To leave online condolences or sign the guest book, visit www.harperfuneralhomes.com