Yoder, Paul Emanuel (E.M.) (1916-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Dec 15 p. 12

Birth date: 1916 Mar 16

text of obituary:

PAUL E.M. YODER

Paul Emanuel (E.M.) Yoder, 87, of Wellman, Iowa, died Nov. 20, 2003, in Parkview Manor following a lengthy illness. He was born March 16, 1916, in Vestaburg, Mich., to John and Nancy (Hershey) Yoder.

He was baptized in his youth at Mount Pisgah Mennonite Church, Cherry Box, Mo. He graduated from high school in Leonard, Mo., and attended Hesston (Kan.) College.

He married Helen Slaubaugh on June 6, 1946, at West Union Mennonite Church, rural Parnell, Iowa.

He farmed in the Wellman and North English area from 1945 to 1979. He was an ordained minister and served as pastor of Parnell Mennonite Church, 1954-79.

After retiring in 1979, he and Helen served in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Brownsville and San Antonio, Texas, 1980-84, and in Quito, Ecuador, 1987-88, before returning to Wellman.

He volunteered at the Crowded Closet in Iowa City and worked many hours at Crooked Creek Christian Camp south of Washington. He was a member of Wellman Mennonite Church.

Survivors include his wife, Helen, of Wellman; two daughters, Kathleen Erteld and her husband, Roger, of Moundridge, Kan., and Christine Falcon and her husband, Rafael, of Goshen, Ind.; two sons, Phil of Kalona and Orie J. and his wife, Linda, of Williamsburg; two brothers, Jesse L. Yoder of Sarasota, Fla., and Vernon T. Yoder of Memphis, Mo., seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Hathaway and Barbara Nice; and two brothers, Daniel M. Yoder and Jonas S. Yoder.

Services were held at Wellman Mennonite Church. Burial was in West Union Cemetery.