Earl M. Yoder

YODER, BENDER

Posted By: Harvey W Henry (email)
Date: 12/1/2006 at 20:36:44

Earl Yoder, 79, of Iowa City, passed away at his home on Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 following a year long struggle with ALS.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, December 3, 2006, at the East Union Mennonite Church on 560th St. near Kalona. Visitation will be at the East Union Mennonite Church on Friday from 5-8 PM and Saturday from 1-8 PM. The family will be present Friday and Saturday from 1-4 and 6-8. Casket bearers will be grandchildren Brian Miller, Josh Tack, Jeff Miller, Jason Tack, Maggie King, and Sarah King.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be given to Iowa City Hospice, East Union Mennonite Church, or Iowa Mennonite School.
Earl M. Yoder was born near Weatherford, OK on Oct. 11, 1927, the son of Mose W and Barbara (Bender) Yoder. The family lived in Oklahoma until moving to Oregon when Earl was nine years old. He became a sergeant in the US Marine Corps, serving from 1945 to 1948 and from 1950 to 1951. In 1952, he moved to Iowa City, IA and started Earl Yoder Construction Company. On Aug. 10, 1952, he married Edna M Bontrager at East Union Mennonite Church.
He built over 600 homes and a number of light commercial buildings like motels, banks, apartments, and the addition and remodeling of East Union. He also owned many other successful businesses over the years including Iowa City Ready Mix and Old Capital Motors. The Construction Co. was sold to his son-in-law, Jim Miller, in 1991. He continued to run and maintain an office at Iowa City Ready Mix until 2006.
Earl served on the board of directors for numerous organizations like the Home Builders Association of Iowa City, the HBA of Iowa, the National HBA, Uni-Bank & Trust Co., Oaknoll Retirement Residence, Mercy Hospital Foundation, and Hills Bank & Trust Co. He was involved in many different government positions and served as a State Representative from Johnson County in the Iowa Legislature from 1966 to 1968. He was also on the Small Business Administration, State and National Advisory Councils, the State Advisory Council for Area Community Colleges, the State Building Code Advisory Council, and the Iowa Housing Finance Authority. His civic activities included President of the Iowa City Optimist Club, Director of United Way of Johnson Co., Director of Goodwill Industries of Southeast Iowa, and Director of Iowa City Chamber of Commerce.
Earl was a strong supporter of the University of Iowa and the Hawkeyes. He and Edna were great friends with many Iowa Hawkeye football players and coaches over the years. He was a member of the President's Club and a charter member of the Kinnick Society. He was on the Carver Hawkeye Arena National Campaign Committee, the University of Iowa Foundation Board of Directors, and the Ronald McDonald House Building Committee where he also served as a Regional Campaign leader. He was on the Iowa Endowment 2000 Campaign National Committee, was a University of Iowa Foundation Lifetime Honorary Director, a Co-Chair of the Hawkeye Horizons Campaign, and the Co-Chair of the High Porch Picnic for Hayden Fry's retirement. He was named Honorary Letter Winner in the National Iowa Varsity Club, and Hawk of the Year by the National I Club. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award in the Friends Category, and the Iowa Football Player's Appreciation Award.
Earl was a member of East Union Mennonite Church for over 54 years. He was also a member of the Iowa Ready Mix Concrete Association, and the Iowa City Elks Club. Earl enjoyed golfing, traveling, fishing, hunting, and gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Edna; three daughters and their husbands: Barb and Randy King of Lake Charles, LA; Deb and Jim Miller of Iowa City, IA; and Jeanne and Steve Auen of Drakesville, IA; six grandchildren: Brian Miller and his wife Kari of Keezletown, VA; Josh Tack of Missoula, MT; Jeff Miller of South Hamilton, MA; Jason Tack of Missoula, MT; and Maggie and Sarah King of Lake Charles, LA; one great grandchild: Nora Miller of Keezletown, VA.
Also surviving are eight siblings, Lena Yoder of McMinnville, OR; Paul Yoder and wife Maggie of Eugene, OR, Ed Yoder and wife Anna of Kalona, IA, Tobe Yoder and wife Treva of Nappanee, IN, Emery Yoder and wife Pauline of Nappanee, IN, Mary Miller and husband Amzy of Sullivan, IL, Barbara Miller and husband Devon of Etna Green, IN, Irvin Yoder and wife Shirley of Nappanee, IN, and three sisters-in-law; Jean Yoder of Summmersville, MO, Esther Yoder of Nappanee, IN, and Becky Miller of Middlebury, IN.
Earl was preced in death by his parents and three brothers, Morris, Mose, and Sam Yoder.
Online condolences may be sent to www.peterseimfuneralhome.com by clicking on obituaries.