Robert K. Yoder

Robert K. Yoder
September 07, 1924 - December 27, 2013
Kalona, Iowa
Visitation: 2-8 PM December 30, 2013 at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 2:00 PM December 31, 2013 at Kalona Mennonite Church
Interment: December 31, 2013 at Sharon Hill Cemetery
Robert K. Yoder was born September 7, 1924 the son of Ray and Kathryn (Miller) Yoder. He grew up in a family that was deeply involved in the life of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. He worked on the farm until he was drafted in 1944 and entered Civilian Public Service. He served in Hill City, South Dakota and at the Relief Clothing and Food Center in Newton, Kansas through 1946. Robert attended Hickory Grove country school and graduated from Center High School. He also took correspondence courses from Moody Bible Institute. On October 16, 1946, Robert married Elvira Stoltzfus of Wood River, Nebraska. They lived and farmed a few miles northeast of the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Elvira passed away on March 25, 1999. On the evening of June 1, 1952, Robert was ordained into the ministry at Lower Deer Creek and he served that congregation for the next thirty years before retiring in 1982. During his years at Lower Deer Creek, he also preached at Cedar Bluff congregation which was a Mennonite mission church. In addition to his work at Lower Deer Creek, Robert served on various boards and committees. He was a member of the Hesston College Board of Overseers, served on the IMS Operating Board and on the IMS Conference Board. He also was an information contact for young men who were being drafted and were entering 1-W and VS. Following his retirement, he worked with Southeast Iowa Estate Planning, an organization dedicated to securing gifts for Crooked Creek Christian Camp, IMS, Pleasantview Home and Parkview Home in Wayland. Robert died on Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona at the age of 89 years. Robert is survived by a daughter Marcia Yoder-Schrock (John) of Donnellson; 4 sons Mahlon Yoder (Rosemary) of Linn Creek, MO, Stanley Yoder (Rena) of Parnell, Herschel Yoder (Rachel) of Kalona, Atlee Yoder (Carolyn) of Kalona, 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, a brother Hobert Yoder of Iowa City, and a sister Marjorie Waybill of Harrisonburg, VA. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elvira and a sister Kathleen Swartzendruber. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at the Kalona Mennonite Church in Kalona. Rev. Scott Swartzendruber will officiate. Burial will be in the Sharon Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-8 PM on Monday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona where the family will greet friends from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A memorial fund has been established for Pleasantview Home and Iowa Mennonite School.