Shown are Maddie, Andrew and Katie Hochstetler. A fundraiser party, raffle drawing and live auction will be held for the family Nov. 5 at The Owl’s Nest, North Webster. Photo provided by Allyson Damjanovic.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Imagine wondering what life will throw at you next.

Your father was killed in the line of duty when you were around 4 years old. Now you’ve learned you may lose the love of your life and the mother of your 8-year-old daughter to stage 4B cervical cancer. On top of that your two-income family has quickly been brought to a single-income family without time to prepare.

Andrew and Katie Hochstetler, along with their daughter, Maddie, are wondering just that.

Andrew’s father, Kosciusko County Detective Sgt. Phil, was shot and killed on June 29, 1994, while interviewing a suspect about a recent burglary. Andrew went on with life, graduating from Triton High School, enlisting in the Army National Guard and being deployed to Afghanistan in 2018. He joined the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy in December 2019. He carries his father’s badge and his unit number.

Katie graduated from Warsaw High School and pursued her education at Ball State University, earning a masters degree in landscape architecture. She became a photographer and quickly became one of the area’s highly sought after photographers.

Things changed for the Hochstetler family in the spring of 2022. Katie became ill and was diagnosed with stage 4B cervical cancer. Due to the severity of her cancer and the magnitude of her treatment, she has been forced to cancel all her work for the foreseeable future. She is undergoing intense chemotherapy.

The Bible says, “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, New Revised Standard Version.

A group of people from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Fraternal Order of Police, Support Behind The Badge (a deputy’s wife support group) and The Owls Nest are providing means for the Hochstetler family to endure. These people have joined together to help a member of their “family” and alleviate some of their financial burdens.

A tailgate-themed fundraising party, raffle and live auction is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at The Owl’s Nest, 7369 E. 800N, North Webster. There is no cost to attend.

The evening offers free tailgate-themed food, several televisions airing the Notre Dame vs. Clemson game and a cash bar. There will be a silent auction featuring gift baskets and gift cards, an online auction and live auction of more than 30 items.

The highlight of the evening will be the raffle drawing for a 2022 Sylvan Mirage 8520 LZ pontoon donated by Pro Wake Watersports as the first prize and $25,000 in cash donated by The Union Tool Corporation as the second prize.

Tickets are $40 for a single ticket or three for $100. Tickets will be available that evening or may purchased in advanced by contacting Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program Coordinator Courney Jenkins at (574) 377-7043.

Metzger Property Services LLC. will coordinate the online auction as well as the live auction.

Live auction items include a 64-gun Liberty cabinet, $7,000 crate of 4 Roses Bourbon, a meat bundle consisting of beef and pork along with a grill and freezer, tickets to the Nov. 19 Notre Dame vs. Boston College home game and a 3-D stadium box, a suite of Polywood Furniture, a rose gold diamond necklace, a registered puppy from Posh Puppy of Indiana and numerous other items.

The group has created a Facebook page “Huddle Up For The Hochstetlers.” A video has been posted on that page, telling the Hochstetlers’ story. Be prepared for a heart-wrenching story. Those liking that page will be kept up to date on auction items and other happenings. A GoFundMe account will also be set up.

All raffle donations or monetary donations are tax deductible.

Monetary donations can be made at various levels prior to the event. Each level offers various perks to the donor. Levels are: Arena Club, $1,000; Upper Deck Club, $2,500; 50 Yardline Club, $5,000; Touchdown Club, $7,500 and Hail Mary Club, $10,000.

These donations can be made payable to FOP Lodge No. 149, and mailed to P.O. Box 832, Warsaw, IN 46581. Include “Huddle Up” on the memo line. Venmo payments can be made to @FOP149 (under business) What’s it for: “Huddle Up.”

Event organizers include Courtney Jenkins, Heather Desenberg, Deb Carpenter, Allyson Damjanovic, Ashley Dillon, Kris Woodard, Jeff Ticknor, Dave Mayer and Sheriff Kyle Dukes.

Remember Matthew 24:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me …”