Otis Yoder

A memorial service for Otis J Yoder, 85, of Kalona, will be held Monday, July 9, 2018, at 10:30 AM at Kalona Mennonite Church, with Pastor Scott Swartzendruber officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the service. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 8 from 2 – 4 and 5 - 7PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home. A memorial fund has been established for Iowa City Hospice and the American Lung Association. Otis Yoder died Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at this home in rural Kalona surrounded by his family.

Otis J Yoder was born February 13, 1933, in Milford, Indiana, the son of John S and Ada (Smucker) Yoder. He was united in marriage to Eunice Miller at Fairview Mennonite Church in Kalona on June 3, 1956. Otis worked in maintenance at Yoder Feeds for 30 years, drove for the Amish for 17 years and owned and operated OJ's BBQ. He was a member of Kalona Mennonite Church and enjoyed flying, traveling, barbequing and woodworking. Otis made marble rollers for all of his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife Eunice of Kalona, four daughters: Cindy (Tim) Widmer of Washington, Angie (Lawrence) Graper of Kalona, Madrene Yoder of Venice, FL., Denise (Chris) Busch of Kalona, eight grandchildren: Trent (Rebekah) Widmer, Bettia (David) Johnson, Erika (Todd) Fox, Amy (Toby) King, Mindy (Gabe) Ruiz, Anthony (Vanessa) Graper, Jacob and Caitlyn Busch, nine great-grandchildren: Sarah and Evan Johnson, Daniel Fox, Claire, Noah and Ruby King, Jenna and Kaden Ruiz, and Hadley Graper.

Also surviving are seven sisters: Verba Prough of Goshen, IN., Mary Ann Smith of Montgomery, IN., Ida (Ray) Yoder of Bristol, IN., Mattie Nissley of Goshen, IN., Betty (Jonas) Troyer of North Canton, OH., Laura (Al) Myers of Goshen, IN., and Linda (Bert) Troyer of Elkhart, IN.

Preceding Otis in death were his parents, two brothers Harold and Roman Yoder, and one sister Gertie Bontrager.