Leona Pearl Gerber was born February, 12, 1927 in Harper, Kansas to Joe and Ida (Yoder) Gerber. She died peacefully November 1, 2018 in Rocky Ford, Colorado.

Leona grew up in rural Harper with her parents, 4 brothers and 1 sister.  Her Father died when she was 18 years old and the family moved to Hesston, Kansas. She finished high school in Hesston and afterward obtained her AA degree from Hesston College in 1949.  In between she served in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Naubinway, Michigan and worked as a housekeeper for various people around Wichita, Kansas.

In 1949 she entered VS in Kansas City working as a nurse aide at Kansas City General Hospital. There she met George Hostetler. They were naturally attracted to each other even though neither were looking for a mate. George proposed marriage and after consulting with many people, she agreed.  They married August 18, 1951 at Hesston College with Milo Kauffman and George's father officiating the wedding. They lived 4 years in Harrisonburg, Virginia where George attended Eastern Mennonite College, then 4 years in Richmond, Virginia while George went to medical school at Virginia Commonwealth.  Those were poor years and Leona showed her skills feeding and clothing the growing family with minimal resources.

The family moved to Wichita in 1959 for internship, Halstead in 1960, then Rocky Ford in 1962.  From 1968 to 1975, the family lived in Harper, Kansas where they built a home on the farm where Leona grew up. In 1975 the family returned to Rocky Ford and have lived here since then. Leona enjoyed being a homemaker.

She raised 8 children:  Nina Hostetler Spokane, WA, Rachel Stockton (Les) Tulsa, OK, Robert Hostetler(Clarice) Dodge City, KS, Nancy Hostetler Albuquerque, NM, Calvin Hostetler (Deanna) Rocky Ford, CO, Catherine Joy Albuquerque, NM, Leon Hostetler La Junta, CO, Ken Hostetler Rocky Ford, CO.

She had a very strong Christian faith and read the bible daily.  In her later years when her memory failed, she maintained her pleasant, cheerful personality.

She was preceded in death by all her siblings: Earl Gerber, Lela Cornett, Mariam Gerber, Emery Gerber, Clayton Gerber.

She is survived by husband George, her children, 4 grandchildren:  Jeremy Wilcome, Sierra Hostetler (Alan Skinner), Mariah Hostetler (Nathan Fay), Bryce Hostetler, and 1 great grandson Gabriel Skinner.

Public Viewing will be held 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday, November 5th at Ford-Ustick Funeral Home in Rocky Ford. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, November 6th at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in La Junta, CO with Pastor Merv Birky and Pastor David Mourn officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, La Junta, CO.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ford - Ustick Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.