Yoder, Wesley (1914-1974)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 6 4 Jun 1971 p. 1

Birth date: 1914 Oct 18

text of obituary:

WESLEY YODER

Wesley Yoder, son of Mose P. and Mary Stutzman Yoder, was born in Johnson County, Iowa on Oct. 18, 1914 and died in University Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa on April 22, 1974 at the age of 59.

On Dec. 25,1938 he married Erma Fern Hauber at West Union Mennonite Church. To this union were born two sons and one daughter; Elwin A. of Ames; Audrey, Mrs. Frank Hartzler of Marshaltown [sic Marshalltown]; and Larion H. of Parnell.

In addition to his wife, three children, and four grandchildren, he is survived by his father and stepmother, his sister Sylvia, Mrs. Ezra Brenneman of Kalona; his brother Ray of Wellman; his three half sisters, Mildred, Luella and Vera, all of Kalona; and his half-brother, Emil of Hesston, Kan. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1918 and by one infant sister.

In his youth Wesley was baptized and received into the Mennonite Church at Upper Deer Creek, transferring to West Union a few years later, where he was a member until death. He served in a number of capacities in the church, and lived a consistent life. At the time of his death he was serving as church treasurer and as a member of the church council.

He lived on a farm north of Wellman most of his married life. He did well what he undertook to do, earning the respect of neighbors and a wide range of friends. He believed in stewardship of all of life and expressed it in the phrase, "All that I am and have is Thine."

On Jan. 22, 1974 he submitted to surgery in University Hospital, and three months later, on Apr. 22, he died in the same hospital. Most of this time he spent at home, but he also went to Arizona for three weeks, entering the hospital for the final time two and one-half weeks before his death.

Funeral services were held at West Union Mennonite Church on April 24, 1974, with burial in the church cemetery.