Willard Yoder

A memorial service for Willard R. Yoder, 96, of Kalona, will be held Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kalona Mennonite Church with Pastor Scott Swartzendruber officiating.  Burial will be held prior to the service at 9:30 a.m. at the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Cemetery in rural Kalona.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 22 from 2 – 4 and 6 – 7 p.m. at the Kalona Mennonite Church.  A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona Mennonite Church and the Kalona Public Library.  Willard R. Yoder died Sunday, March 20, 2016 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Willard Raymond Yoder was born Monday, December 1, 1919 to Joseph D. and Annie (Yoder) Yoder. He attended Prairie Dale School and was baptized October 15, 1933.  From October 1942 – March 1946 he served in the Civilian Public Service at Hill City, South Dakota and Fort Collins, Colorado.  On November 11, 1943 he was united in marriage to Ellen Mae Stutzman.   To this union was born one son, Leslie Raymon and three daughters: Carmaletta, Sally Ann and Linda Diane.  They farmed the Joe D. Yoder farm until 1966 when the family moved to the house they built in Joetown.  In 1972 they moved into a house that they built in Kalona.  His wife Ellen died on March 13, 1979.  Willard was united in marriage to Ida Yoder on June 14, 1980.  He was a member of the Kalona Mennonite Church and worked as school bus driver for Washington Township, was employed at Nagle Lumber in Iowa City, drove truck for Country Lane Eggs and before retiring built utility sheds for John's Portable Buildings.  He retired in January of 2000, due to health problems.  Willard enjoyed reading, especially the Bible, and walking.

Survivors include his wife Ida of Kalona, three daughters: Carmen Webber of Iowa City, Sally (Lane) Talbert of Lancaster, South Carolina, Linda (Mike) Loftis of Shelby, North Carolina, a daughter in law, Mary Yoder of Kalona, two grandsons, 6 granddaughters and 15 great grandchildren.

Preceding Willard in death were his parents, his wife Ellen, his son Leslie in 2000, six siblings: Edna Swartzendruber, Magdalene Stoltzfus, Ollie Page, Leo Yoder, Edith Wade and Mabel Yoder, and a great granddaughter, Haley McCormick.