Wilma Morsch Hostetler

Born June 7, 1926 in Pekin as the first child to Robert Lee and Wilma Ada (Bright) Hawkins. She was a 1944 graduate of Pekin Community High School.

She married Paul Morsch on July 11, 1948 in Pekin and they were blessed with three children.

Surviving are two sons, Paul G. Morsch and Joe (Dawn) Morsch, both of Pekin; one daughter, Phyllis J. Proffer of Greenville, South Carolina; one grandson, Zachary (Stephanie) Morsch of Madison, Wisconsin.

Wilma had worked on the bottling line at American Distilling Company in Pekin in her younger years. She joined the Pekin Park District Administration Office in 1967 until June of 1973 when she joined the business office of Pekin Public School District 108. After changing jobs, she continued to work with youth in the concession stands at the Park part-time. Wilma retired as bookkeeper and secretary to the Board of Education for Pekin Public Schools District #108 in 1988. Even after retirement, she continued to work part-time at the Tazewell County School Employees Credit Union in Pekin until 1997. She touched many lives in meaningful ways.

As a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin, she met and married another church member Roy D. Hostetler on December 27, 1997. He died September 1, 2005 in Pekin. Surviving are her stepson, Dan Hostetler and his two daughters Lynzi Hostetler and Loryn Hostetler.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Donna Lee Colson; and one brother, William Gene Hawkins.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin, where she was a member and past treasurer of the United Methodist Woman, and had worked in the church finance office. In the years when her children were growing up, she volunteered her time to the Jefferson Elementary PTA; she was a Tazewell County 4-H Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother; and involved in Brownies and Girl Scouts. She enjoyed cooking, dancing, traveling, reading, sewing, crocheting and spending time with family and friends.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. James McClarey will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Central Illinois Chapter, 612 West Glen Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614 or to OSF Hospice, 2265 West Altorfer Drive, Peoria, IL 61615.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com