James D. Yoder was born September 9,
1929 to Alfred L. and Zella Slayden Yoder at Kansas City, Missouri.
Most of his childhood and adolescent years were spent near
Harrisonville, MO., a story told in his books ?The Yoder Outsiders?
and ?A Boy in a House of Shadows?.
He attributes his early Christian
education largely to the Mennonite Bible Schools he attended each
summer. He and his brother Al, along with his parents, became members
of the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church, Garden City, MO., in 1947.
As a child, James? poems were
published in the Cass County Democrat. At 17, he passed the State
Teacher?s Examinations and received his teaching certificate. He
taught at Clearfork School, near Garden City, MO., for five years,
receiving education during summer school at Central Missouri State.
In 1952-55, James attended Goshen College and Goshen Biblical
Seminary, where he completed three degrees. During his senior year,
he married Lonabelle C. Jantzi from Adams, New York. Upon graduation
from Seminary, James was pastor of the Sycamore Grove congregation
for four years.
In 1959, James, Lonabelle, and their
two children, Michael, and Angela, moved to Kansas City, MO., where
James taught in the Hickman Mills School District. Receiving his M.S.
in Counseling from Central Missouri State, he counseled in the
secondary schools of Hickman Mills. Following the death of his
daughter, Angela, James received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at
the University of MO., K.C., and was a licensed psychologist at the
University Counseling Center and Adjunct Graduate Professor.
James began writing articles relating
the thought of Viktor Frankl. He was invited to present a paper at
the First World Congress of Logotherapy, held at the University of
San Diego, where he met Frankl. He trained in the Institute of
Logotherapy in Berkeley, CA., receiving certification as a
Logotherapy Trainer. He founded the Kansas City Chapter of the
Institute and served as executive director until he retired and moved
to North Newton, KS. in 1991, and later to Hesston, KS. James taught
logotherapy counseling techniques to many counselors, social workers,
physicians and clergy. He continued to write, publish and read papers
at five World Congresses of Logotherapy, both in the U.S. and in
Europe.
James followed his interest in writing
and storytelling and publishing eleven historical novels, a book on
Logotherapy in counseling, and a memoir. Several of his novels won
awards.
During his years in Kansas City, James
was a member of the Rainbow Mennonite Church, where he taught Sunday
School and served as a deacon. While a delegate to Western District
Conference James attended Bethel College Mennonite church as a
visitor. ?When I retire,? James said, ?I want to be a member of
that church.? That dream became a reality when James and Lonabelle
joined Bethel College Church in 1991. James frequently expressed his
joy in the various choirs and music which, to him, inspired one?s
heart beyond the ordinary. James frequently lectured and told stories
from his writings at BCMC and in a variety of settings across Kansas.
?My favorite hymn,? James said, is ?Jesu, Joy of Man?s
Desiring.??
James is survived of the home, a son,
Michael Lynn Yoder, and daughter-in-law, Karen Seibel of Lawrence,
KS, and a step-granddaughter, Jamie Seibel-Sigmon, several cousins,
nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Lonabelle
Yoder, a baby sister, Zella, a daughter, Angela Maria, his parents,
Alf and Zella Yoder, his brother, Alfred Yoder, Jr., and his
sister-in-law, Irene Yoder. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m.,
Friday, October 7 at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton,
KS. A livestream link will be available on the Bethel College
Mennonite Church website and the churches YouTube channel to view the
funeral service virtually.
A private burial service will be held
at a later date at Clearfork Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.
Memorial donations may be directed to MCC PO Box 500 Akron PA
17501-0500
