Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late John and Marie Hostrup. She attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne and Concordia High School, Fort Wayne, class of 1949. She continued her education at Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois. In 1956, she married Art Pinnow. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and it's Altar Guild. In 1990, she retired from teaching kindergarten at St. Paul's after 20 years. She also taught at several other Lutheran schools as well as volunteered her time at Parkview Hospital. Her artistic talents and sense of color defined her.
Surviving family include her children, John (Marti) Pinnow, of Greenwood, Indiana and Cyndi (Keith) Macke, of Hoagland, Indiana; grandchildren, Brittany (Andy) Schreiber, Kelsey (TJ) Grillot, Hailey (Jared) Rauner, Kyle (Mykayla) Macke, and Mimi Pinnow; and great grandchildren, Adalynn, Brantley, Teddy, Winston, Beckett, Leightyn, Ophelia, Courtlynn, and Russell.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in passing by her loving husband of 53 years, Art; her sister, Ruth Gerberding; and a grandson, Nicholas Pinnow.
A funeral service celebrating Esther's life will be 11:00 am on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1126 South Barr Street, Fort Wayne, with visitation beginning at 9:00 until service time. Esther will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Concordia Cemetery Gardens, Fort Wayne.
Memorials in her memory may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Worship Anew, Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, Fort Wayne is caring for the arrangements, condolences and memories of Esther can be left online at www.hockemeyermillerfh.com
