Melvin L. Yoder (1927 - 2015)
Obituary
Hesston - Melvin Lester Yoder passed
away on May 2, 2015 at Schowalter Villa, Hesston. He was born
February 22, 1927 near Hutchinson, Kansas. The youngest of five
children, he was the son of Samuel J. and Mary (Schrock) Yoder. He
was baptized at Yoder Mennonite Church as a youth.
On April 14, 1950 he married Cleo Marie
Miller at Yoder, Kansas. They lived near Hutchinson, Kansas until
1961 when they moved to the Hesston, Kansas area. In 1975 they moved
to Sharon Springs, Kansas and then back to Hesston in 1980.
Melvin had a passion for the work of
the Lord and sharing the word of God. He was a very active member of
The Gideons International since 1978. As a Gideon, he was elected
Kansas State President in 1986. He served for 12 years on the Kansas
State Cabinet and travelled abroad on behalf of Gideons. He continued
as a very active member of Gideons throughout his life. He was also
an active member at Whitestone Mennonite Church, serving at various
times as Trustee, Elder and other positions.
Melvin was a loving, supportive and
gentle husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He cared
deeply for his wife and family and was present and supportive in the
special occasions and the times of need. He was a man of
prayer,believed strongly in the power of prayer and experienced the
power of prayer.
He was a farmer and experienced much
joy in tilling the soil and raising crops. In addition to being a
lifelong farmer, Melvin worked for Mennonite Aid Union Insurance for
37 years, including service as the General Manager of Mennonite Aid
Union Insurance from 1980 through 1999.
Melvin is survived by his son Arlan and
wife Ila, Hesston, six grandchildren, Jeff Yoder and wife Lisa,
Hesston, Lisa George and husband Mark, Hesston, Justin Yoder and wife
Stephanie, Weatherford, Oklahoma, Jacquelyn Wostenburg and husband
Darren, Longmont, Colorado, Lacy Foos, Loomis, California, and Rachel
Vest, Wichita. He is also survived by great grandchildren Cora Yoder,
Isaac Yoder, Briley Yoder, Braxton Yoder and Taryn George and by many
nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Cleo, two
stillborn daughters, Neta Faye and Diane Dell, his daughter Arnella
Lindsay, one brother Ralph Yoder and sisters Wilma Yoder, Lizzie Mae
Selzer, Verna Yoder and a stillborn sister.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., with
family present from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Miller-Ott
Funeral Home, Hesston. Graveside service will be at 9:30 a.m.,
Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston with a memorial
service to follow at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Whitestone
Mennonite Church, Hesston.
Memorials may be given to The Gideons
International in care of the Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.
Published in The Kansan on May 5, 2015
