Edwin L. “Ed” Yoder, 91, of Kalona, died on May 19, 2020, at Mercy Hospital Iowa City, at the age of 91 years and one day.
A private family burial will be held Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the East Union Cemetery. A public drive-through visitation will be held Saturday, May 30, from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at East Union Mennonite Church carport.
Ed Yoder was born near Kalona on May 18, 1929, to Jonas and Lena Yoder. He attended Evergreen School. He later earned his GED and attended trade school to become a bricklayer. Ed married Esther Miller on June 3, 1951. They were married 59 years, until Esther’s passing in 2010.
Ed worked as a bricklayer in Iowa and Atlanta, Ga. He was a member of East Union Mennonite Church and the Washington Township Optimist Club. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor and driving his little red scooter around Kalona for the past several years. Upon retirement, Ed and Esther moved to Horseshoe Bend, Ark., where they lived for 10 years before returning to Kalona. Before moving to Georgia, Ed donated blood for many years.
Ed is survived by six children and their spouses: Rodney and Yvonne Yoder of Camp Crook, S.D., Bob and Deb Yoder of Kalona, Eric Yoder of Riverside, Melanie and Mike Schweitzer of Wellman, Beth and Jim Schlabaugh of Wellman, and Celia and Emmanuel Ffrench of Newport Beach, Calif.; grandchildren: Megan Yoder of Kalona, Stephanie and Tyler Weers of Falcon Heights, Minn., Austin Schlabaugh and Jared Schlabaugh of Wellman, and Gigi Ffrench of Newport Beach, Calif.; great-granddaughters: Nora and Violet Weers of Falcon Heights, Minn.; and a brother: Frank and Ada Yoder of Kalona; sisters-in-law: Vesta Neale, Mary Jane Baker, Anne Miller, Ida Fern Miller, and Ruby Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Esther in 2010; a granddaughter: Allison Yoder; brothers: Paul and Katie Yoder, David and Verna Yoder; and three half-siblings: Chriss Yoder, Frieda Whetstone, and Mabel Miller.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to East Union Mennonite Church or the Mississippi Valley Blood Bank.
Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home of Kalona is caring for the family.
