Howard Yoder

WELLMAN ? Howard Ray Yoder, 91, of Wellman, died Sunday, July 10, 2016, in Parkview Manor in Wellman.

Celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 14, at the West Union Mennonite Church in rural Parnell with the Rev. Corey Miller officiating. Burial will be in the West Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., Wednesday at the church. A memorial fund has been established for West Union Mennonite Church and Iowa Mennonite School. The Powell Funeral home in Wellman is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Yoder was born Dec. 23, 1924, in rural Parnell, the son of Henry and Bertha (Doolin) Yoder. He married Eleanor Swartzendruber on Jan. 12, 1947, at the West Union Mennonite Church.

He attended White Hall country school. He served in the Army in the Rainbow Division during World War II. He farmed in the Wellman area for 47 years. He was a member of the West Union Mennonite Church, where he served as trustee and Sunday school teacher. He enjoyed woodcarving, basket weaving, chair caning and woodworking projects.

Surviving are his wife, Eleanor, of Wellman; six children, H. Douglas Yoder of Lakewood, Colorado, Steven Yoder and wife Becky of Kalona, Lucinda Hoskins and husband George of Wellman, John Howard Yoder and wife Joni of Wellman, Barbara Martin and husband Keith of Newton, Kansas, and Melissa Thomas and husband Ron of Louisville, Kentucky; one daughter-in-law, Vici Yoder of Littleton, Colorado; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four brothers, Kenneth Yoder and wife Dorothy of Wellman, Carl Yoder and wife Laverta of Wellman, Gordon Yoder and wife Norma of Dayton, Virginia, and Walter Yoder and wife Jean of North Branch, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son-in-law, Gordon Brenneman; one brother, Warren Yoder; his sister, Dorothy Messer; and an infant sister.