Photo: Jackson, Mississippi Service Adventure unit and leaders, (l to r) Niklas Kugler, Valerie Haupt, Jenessa Woodrich, Susannah Epp, Hannah Hochstetler, and Caleb Hochstetler. Hannah was killed in a Jan. 19 traffic accident. Photo provided. 

Co-leader of the Jackson, Mississippi, Service Adventure Unit, Hannah Hochstetler, died in a Jan. 19 traffic accident near Roanoke, Virginia. Hochstetler was 26.

Hochstetler and her husband, Caleb, were returning to Jackson, Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 19, traveling south on I-81 close to Roanoke, Virginia, when a vehicle crossed the median and struck the Hochstetlers’ car head-on. Caleb was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries, where he continues to recover.

The driver of the other vehicle, Monte Zuck, 72 years old, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Zuck has been charged with reckless driving.

Hannah is the daughter of Michael and Beth Grieser of Goshen, Indiana. Caleb is the son of Ken and Sue Hochstetler, also of Goshen.

Caleb, 25 years old, and Hannah met at Goshen (Indiana) College, of which both are graduates. They married in 2014. Hannah was a communications major with a Spanish minor, and Caleb majored in informatics and biology. He also has received his Master of Business Administration degree from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Hannah was also a graduate of Bethany Christian Schools, Goshen, Indiana.

Together, they have a wide community of family and friends. Caleb’s home congregation is Blooming Glen (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church; Hannah’s home congregation is East Goshen Mennonite Church. Together, they attended Ridgeway Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and after beginning as Service Adventure leaders, Open Door Mennonite Church in Jackson, Mississippi.

As Service Adventure leaders, Hannah and Caleb lived with and mentored a group of four young adult participants. They provided a safe space for them to process their experiences, develop their faith, and discover their vocations. In addition to this work, Hannah managed an Etsy shop called HH Design Creative, where she designed and sold cards.

Jenessa Woodrich, a Service Adventure participant, wrote about Hannah later Thursday night in memory: “… You had a heart of gold, a servant’s heart, always thought about others first, would do anything and everything to make others happy. Hannah, you were the light in a dark world. You loved Jesus and you were one of his disciples …”

“Hannah was a truly beautiful soul,” said Susan Nisly, director of Service Adventure, a Mennonite Mission Network program. “I met Hannah and Caleb a year ago and will never forget the smile that lit up her face when I told her we were opening a new unit in Jackson. It was at that moment that I knew they were going to be a wonderful addition to Service Adventure.”

Nisly described Hannah as creative and a natural at relating with people.

“I enjoyed working with her and seeing the way that she entered the role of mentor with the participants,” Nisly said. “They loved her, and you could see that in the way they interacted with each other and truly enjoyed one another.”

Visitation for Hochstetler will take place on Friday February 3 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at East Goshen (Indiana) Mennonite Church. The funeral will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday February 4 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Indiana.