MENDOTA - Paul Q. Hochstatter, 95, of Mendota died March 17, 2019 at the Villas Senior Care Community, Sherman.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Peterstown with Father Peter Pilon officiating. Burial will be at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, March 22 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with a 3:15 p.m. Rosary.

Paul was born Sept. 19, 1923 in Troy Grove Township to Benjamin and Mary (Granfield) Hochstatter. He married Mary Rita Flaherty, daughter of Timothy and Josephine (McGrath) Flaherty, on Sept. 12, 1945 at Sacred Heart Church, Dimmick.

Survivors include his wife of Sherman; four daughters, Paula (Randy) Jones of Springfield, Kathy (Steve) Swan of Oswego, Joanne (Mike) Sadrakula of Arlington Heights and Becky (Brad) Townsend of Sorento; one son, Bob (Cathy) Hochstatter of Bartonville; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Celeste Schmitt of Mendota and Jeanne Hochstatter of Milwaukee, Wis.; and one foster brother, Rich Milazzo of Mendota.

He was preceded in death by his parents; nine brothers, Curtis, Benny, Marty, Wilmer, Harold, LaVerne, Raphael, Greg and Norbert; four sisters, Bernice Killelea, Loraine Henkel, Marilyn McInerney and Pat Love; and one foster brother, Ron Milazzo.

Paul attended grade school at Saints Peter and Paul School, Peterstown and was a 1941 graduate of Mendota High School. He was a lifelong farmer and believed it was right to be a good steward of the land. During the winters of 1943 and 1944, he worked at the Green River Ordnance Plant in Amboy. He also worked for Linne Implement and Bruce Waldorf in the winters. He worked with Phillip Hanson building houses in the area including his own family home. He was a member of the Mendota Elks and the Troy Grove Elevator Co-op where he served as president of the board for many years. He was always willing to help a neighbor or friend when needed. They loved to travel and visited most of the U.S. and much of Europe. In later years, they spent several months every winter in Daytona Beach. Paul was an avid gardener and loved his fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada.

Memorials may be directed to the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, 9201 St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL 60423.