Yoder, Michael W. (1954-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Oct 7 p. 3

Birth date: 1954

text of obituary:

Three Young People Die In Accidents Near Goshen

Goshen, Ind. — Three young people were fatally injured in two separate traffic accidents near here Friday evening, Oct. 1, and early Saturday. Five other youths were injured, none seriously.

A two-car crash south of Goshen on Friday evening claimed the lives of Janet R. Toevs, 21, of Whitewater, Kan. and JoAnna Mae Steckley, 20, of Harrisonburg, Va. Miss Toevs died at the scene and Miss Steckley died in the hospital on Sunday.

An accident on US-33 northwest of here at 12:09 a.m. Saturday claimed the life of Michael W. Yoder, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Yoder of Elkhart.

The two young women had attended a wedding rehearsal at a church near Goshen the evening of the fatal accident. Miss Toevs was to sing a solo at the Saturday wedding, and Miss Steckley was to be a bridesmaid. They had just left the church in Miss Toevs' small foreign car when it was hit broadside at Kerchers Corners.

Miss Toevs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Toevs of Route 1, Whitewater, and a graduate of Hesston College, had recently completed a term of voluntary service in Chicago. She was employed in the library on the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois and assisted in inner city work. She had moved to the Reba Place Fellowship in Evanston and was continuing her work in Chicago.

In the other accident, five students at Concord High School were en route home in a Volkswagen van with Michael Yoder as driver when the vehicle was struck from behind by a car driven by a Mishawaka youth. The van overturned and all were thrown out. Michael died en route to the hospital.

His passengers, all of whom were released after treatment at the hospital, were Timothy L. Claassen 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Classen; Frieda and Anita Beth Klassen, daughters of Dr. Otto Klassen; and Gayle Herrli, 16, daughter of Glen E. Herrli. All are of the Elkhart area.

Michael was a senior at Concord, here he was an athlete and member of the National Honor Society. His funeral was held Monday forenoon at the College Mennonite Church, with Rev. John Mosemann and Rev. J. Robert Detweiler officiating.

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Funeral services for Janet Toevs were held Tuesday morning at the Emmaus Mennonite Church near Whitewater, with Rev. L. R. Amstutz in charge. Lowell Byler of the Hesston College faculty sang at the service. The Toevs' son, Paul, was killed in a motor bike accident four years ago. Another son, James, of the home survives, along with the parents.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Feb 17 p. 12

text of obituary:

Schools and Colleges

. . .

Memorial Mat

In memory of Michael Yoder, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon R. Yoder, the family and friends have given $2,600 for an official wrestling mat at Goshen College.

The young man, a member of the College Mennonite Church, was a Concord High senior when he was killed in a car crash last Oct. 2. He was sectional champion in the 112-lb. wrestling class and regional runner-up in both his sophomore and junior years.

Dr. Roman Gingerich, chairman of the physical education department at Goshen College, said the gift of a 34 ft. square Insulite mat will be used by 30 college men who have been using gymnastic mats for conditioning and practice.