Edwin Edward 'Ed' Hochhalter, 97, of Nampa went to be with the Lord Thursday, April 10, 2014 in Nampa.

Edwin was born June 27, 1916 near Zeeland, North Dakota to August & Magdalena (Bohlander) Hochhalter. In 1919 the family moved to a farm near the Missouri River west of Pollock, South Dakota. He attended Keen Grammar School. From an early age, he helped with farm work as everyone in the family did. In 1936 the family moved to Nampa to join brother Otto and his wife Rosie who had moved to Idaho the previous year. Ed's sister Esther, who was married, remained in South Dakota.

In October of 1940 Ed joined the 183rd Field Artillery Regiment of the Idaho National Guard. In April of 1941, the 183rd was mobilized and sent to Fort Warren in Cheyenne, Wyoming for training. Soon after Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, they were ordered to Fort Lewis, Washington to defend against possible invasion. Eds Battery eventually became Battery C of the 951st Field Artillery Battalion which landed on Utah Beach on 12 June, 1944 and saw action throughout the war in Europe.

After discharge from the Army in 1945, he started work at the Pacific Fruit Express shop in Nampa where he worked until he retired in 1976. He married first wife Jean Audrey Loveday, who he met in England while stationed there prior to the Normandy Invasion, on December 21, 1945. Edwin and Jean had four children, Linda, Alan, Janice, and Karen.

Jean died in 1978, and Edwin married Kathryn Search on November 29th 1983. Kathryn's family became part of Ed's extended family. Edwin and Kathryn made many trips over the next few years to see the sights and visit friends and relatives, and even made a trip to China. When age restricted their travels, Ed liked to tinker in his workshop and tend his garden during the summer.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents August and Magdalena, brothers Otto, Ferdinand, Rudy, Reuben; sisters Esther (Herman) Dienert and Martha (Reuben) Moser, first wife Jean and daughter Linda Deming.

He is survived by second wife Kathryn, his son Alan and daughter Janice Hochhalter, and daughter Karen and son-in-law Tom Martin, his sister Violet Coggburn, five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; Kathryn's children Carole (Dan) Dean, Jim (Bobby-Jean) Vanderdassen, Marlene (Rudy) Lobato, Judy (Bob) Spriggel and their families.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Horizon Home Health & Hospice who helped care for Ed.

Viewing will be Wednesday April 16 from 4 PM to 7 PM at the Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave S. in Nampa.

A Celebration of Ed's Life will be held at the Christian Faith Center at 31 S. Midland Blvd, Nampa on Thursday April 17 at 10:30 AM, followed by internment at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

Memorial donations may be made to the Canyon County Historical Society.

Service Information Visitation Wednesday April 16, 2014 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651 Celebration of Life Thursday April 17, 2014 10:30 AM Christian Faith Center 31 S. Midland Blvd Nampa, Idaho 83651