Claretta Yoder

A celebration of life for Claretta M. (Widmer) Yoder, 95, of Wellman, will be held Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona with Pastor Randy Harker officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 10 – 11 AM.  Burial will follow at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona.  A memorial fund has been established for the Windham Community Church and the Wellman Senior Center.  Claretta Yoder died Sunday, May 3, 2015 at Parkview Manor in Wellman.

Claretta Marie (Widmer) Yoder was born March 18, 1920 in North Albany, OR, the daughter of Christian M. and Emma Ruth (Brenneman) Widmer.  She came to Johnson County, IA in 1939.  On March 8, 1942 she was united in marriage to Orval J. Yoder.  The couple lived in the Windham community for 57 years and Claretta helped run the Windham Garage for 20 years, which included keeping the books, pumping gas, going for parts and fixing an occasional flat tire.  She was a 4-H leader and Johnson County Extension member, an honorary 4-H member and was active in many community activities.  Claretta was a charter member of the Iowa City Sweet Adelines and served as chairman of the costume committee.  She was a member of the Windham Community Church.  She loved her nieces and nephews, and was an avid golfer (duffer).

Survivors include her sister in law, Marlene (Marion) Leichty of Mt. Pleasant, IA, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and special friend, Marge Rogers.


Preceding Claretta in death were her parents, her husband Orval, brother Kenneth Widmer, sister Ruth Kauffman, brother and sister in law, Wayne and Elizabeth Yoder.