Ruth Ann Yoder

1925 - 2020

Posted

Ruth Ann Yoder, 95, of Kalona, passed away on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at Pleasantview Home.   A private family graveside service will be held at the East Union Cemetery in rural Kalona.  A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona Mennonite Church. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.  A video of the service will be available at peterseimfuneralhome.com Friday afternoon.

 She was born to Omar and Myrtle Liebig in Johnson County west of the cheese factory on July 31, 1925.

She was baptized in 1936 and she was a member of East Union Mennonite Church, a member for 20 years.

She attended Lincoln Grade School and graduated from Kalona High School in May of 1944.   

On Sept. 15, 1944, she married Wilbur J. Yoder in Kalona.  Together they had five children.  They farmed near Joetown until Wilbur passed away in May of 1965.

In 1966, Ruth Ann graduated from the University of Iowa Nursing Program with a LPN degree.  She then worked at the University of Iowa Hospital and Parkview Nursing Home.  In 1978 she returned to the University of Iowa to complete her RN degree.  She then worked at Pleasantview Home until she retired.

Ruth Ann was currently a member of the Kalona Mennonite Church where she enjoyed women’s Bible studies and her Sunday school class.  She was a member of the Lioness Club in Kalona and enjoyed volunteering at the Kalona Historical Village.  Ruth Ann enjoyed morning coffee time with her friends at the Kalona Bakery.   For many years she was active with the Kalona High School Alumni Association as she kept in contact with many of her high school friends.

Ruth Ann was an avid reader and love to bake cinnamon rolls for her family and friends as well as cook. 

She is survived by her five children:  Mary Beth (James) Blecha of Hill City S.D., Reagan of Iowa City, Anthony (Sarah)  of Kalona, Mina (Fred) Swartzendruber of Goshen Ind., and Kim (Mary Ann) of Iowa City; 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded by her husband: Wilbur J. Yoder; parents: Omar and Myrtle Liebig; sister: Maxine Gingerich; and one granddaughter: Sara (Libby) Elizabeth Miller.