Yoder, Luke D. (1929-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Apr 20 p. 9

Birth date: 1929 Nov. 24

text of obituary:

LUKE D. YODER

Pastor Luke D. Yoder, 79, of Pigeon, Mich., died April 4, 2009, at Country Gardens in Pigeon, after a six-month illness with ALS.

He was born Nov. 24, 1929, in Greenwood, Del., to David S. and Savilla (Bender) Yoder.

He married Cora Mae Maust on Dec. 28, 1949, in Pigeon.

He served as minister and overseer of Pigeon River Mennonite Church for more than 40 years. He was as a board member for Rosedale Mennonite Missions, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Eastern Mennonite University and the Mennonite Church.

He earned his living as a farmer, owning and operating Yoder Farms on South Bay Port Road. He believed in the importance of family, church, generosity and grace.

Surviving are his wife, Cora Mae; three sons, Merlin and his wife, Patricia, Darrel and his wife, Lynette, and Dale and his wife, Phyllis, all of Bay Port; a daughter, Gloria Diener and her husband, Eugene, of Harrisonburg, Va.; 11 grandchildren; five brothers, David S. Yoder Jr. of Goshen, Ind., Amos W. Yoder of Lititz, Pa., Paul T. Yoder of Harrisonburg, Daniel V. Yoder and Jesse Yoder of Dover, Del.; and two sisters, Naomi Yoder of Blountstown, Fla., and Miriam Hull of Wytheville, Va.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Katie L. Yoder; a sister, Ruth Y. Bontrager; and two brothers, his twin, Mark B. Yoder, and John J. Yoder.

The funeral service was held at Pigeon River Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.