I was born in Marshall County, Indiana, grew up in Kosciusko County and lived most of my adult life in Elkhart County, specifically the area of Goshen, all in north central Indiana.

Through my Stutzman line, I descend from Jacob Hochstetler, a Swiss Amish immigrant of 1738, through his daughter Barbara, who married Christian Stutzman. Jacob had 3 other children, sons: Joseph, John and Christian who left a large family of Hochstetler/Hostetler/Hochstedler descendants who, along with the Stutzman descendants, now number in the tens of thousands nationwide.

I am an avid genealogy researcher and enjoy digging up details that add "color" to the lives of my ancestors and those that I am researching. I have enjoyed visiting cemeteries and photographing grave markers for many years, as well doing proper cleaning and restoration of old markers when needed.