Ida Yoder, 90, of Kalona, passed from this life Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 3 p.m., at Kalona Mennonite Church. Burial will be held the day before, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Lower Deer Creek Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 3 – 7 p.m., Friday, September 11, 2026, at Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Kalona Mennonite Church, the Kalona Public Library, and Hospice of Washington County.
Ida Yoder was born Saturday, January 25, 1936, to John S. Jr. and Lena (Miller) Yoder, in Johnson County, Kalona, Iowa. She attended West Lincoln School. On September 14, 1952, she was baptized and later became a member of Kalona Mennonite Church. She worked in numerous homes during her teenage years, and in January of 1957 she began housekeeping for her uncle John A. Miller. After 1966, she had numerous jobs. On June 14, 1980, she was united in marriage to Willard R. Yoder.
After Willard’s retirement in 1981, they went to Phoenix, Arizona, to spend the winter months. In the spring of 1982, they moved to Arizona, where they resided until the fall of 1988. They then spent the next six months in Sarasota, Florida. In July 1989, they returned to the Kalona area. Ida enjoyed walking, reading, putting puzzles together, and genealogy, having compiled three family record books.
Survivors include: stepdaughter Sally Talbert of Lancaster, South Carolina; stepdaughter-in-law: Mary Yoder of North Liberty; stepson-in-law: Mike Loftis of Florida; sister: Nina (William) Bontrager of Plymouth, Indiana; two brothers: Simon (Mary Susan) Yoder and Dennis Yoder of Kalona; brother-in-law: Cephas Yoder of Kalona; sister-in-law: Katie Yoder of Michigan; and 13 step-grandchildren.
Preceding Ida in death were her parents; husband: Willard in 2016; sisters and brothers-in-law: Lydia (John) Bontrager, Amelia (Jesse) Yoder, Anna Mae (Lester) Coblentz, Emma Yoder, and Mary (Christy) Yoder; sister-in-law: Judith Yoder; and infant sisters; four brothers: Ruben, Albert, Cleola and Henry Yoder; stepson: Leslie Yoder; and two stepdaughters: Carmen Webber and Linda Loftis.
