Celista Arlene Kuehl was born March 3, 1920 to Fred and Emma (Meyer) Kuehl in rural Ormsby, Minnesota. She attended rural schools and later St. James High School. On May 31, 1941 she was united in marriage to Harlin Hockel at Immanuel Lutheran Church Parsonage in Galena Township, rural Ormsby, Minnesota. After their marriage Celista traveled with Harlin while he was stateside in the Army and she worked at various jobs both on and off the base. When Harlin returned from the South Pacific they moved to a farm in Cedar Township where they lived until Harlin died in 1977. Celista was an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Odin where she taught Sunday School for many years. She also was a member of the Army Sixth Division Auxiliary where she served as Chaplin. Celista belonged to the Watonwan County Extension. She greatly enjoyed traveling, spending time with her grandchildren, going to local sporting events and taking family out for dinner.

Celista died on Thursday evening, August 25, 2005 at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, Minnesota at the age of eighty-five years.

Those who shared in Celista's Life:
Celista is survived by her daughter, Suevonne Negaard and her husband, Richard, of Eagan, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Julene Hockel of rural Odin, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Wendy and David Briggs of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, Mark and Karla Hockel of rural Windom, Minnesota, Gretchen and Todd Helmer of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Danylle and Michael Espenson of Windom, Minnesota and Heidi Hockel of rural Odin, Minnesota; eleven great-grandchildren, Drew, Alex, Tommy and Tucker Briggs, Clay, Morgan, Mia, MacKenzie and Cody Hockel; Londyn and Meadow Espenson; sister, Ona Kohn of St. James, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Margaret Kuehl of St. James, Minnesota, sister-in-law, Myra Hockel of Odin, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Bernie and Beverly Hockel of rural Odin, Minnesota; many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.


In addition to her parents, Celista was preceded in death by her husband, Harlin; sons, Howard and Richard Hockel; three sisters and two brothers.