Carl W. Yoder

Carl W. Yoder, 78, of Wakarusa and formerly of Nappanee, died Wednesday morning, August 6, 2008, in Rolling Prairie, Indiana. He was born on January 9, 1930, in New Paris, to Jonas S. and Delilah (Burkholder) Yoder.  He married Doris Wavelene Lehman on July 4, 1952 in San Antonio, Texas.  She died September 22, 2002.  He then married Lois A. Meissner on September 16, 2005.  She survives. Mr. Yoder graduated from New Paris High School in 1948, attended Manchester College and graduated in 1951 from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis.  He established Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home in Nappanee in 1964 and retired in 1984.  Mr. Yoder served as Elkhart County Coroner from 1985 to 1992.  He was recognized by the Elkhart County Sheriff Department for his years of service. He had also served on the Elkhart County Council for four years.  From 1951 to 1953, Mr. Yoder served in the US Army Medical Corps.  He was a member of the Wakarusa Lions Club and was honored with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.  He was a member of the Nappanee Church of the Brethren, the Lafontaine Masonic Temple, the Fort Wayne Shriners, the Elks Lodge of Elkhart, the Indiana Funeral Director Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.  He was a 50 year member of the Nappanee American Legion Post 154 and he volunteered as a Red Coat at Elkhart General Hospital.  He was a former member of the RAM of Nappanee #155. He is survived by his wife, Lois; two daughters, Raye LeeAnn Reed of Atlanta, Georgia and June (Rick) Garner of Starkville, Mississippi; two step-sons, Paul (Ann Marie) Meissner of New York, New York, and Mark Meissner of Arlington, Virginia; two granddaughters; four step-grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, John (Martha) Yoder of Goshen; and two sisters, Dorothy (Willis) Kohli of Goshen and Esther Ritenour of Sebring, Florida. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Milo, Frank, Levi and Harvey Yoder; and two sisters, MaryAnn Goppert and Lydia Bowman. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 both Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home in Wakarusa where a 10:00 a.m. funeral service will be conducted on Monday, August 11, 2008.  Nephew Tim Yoder will officiate.  Burial will be in South Union Cemetery, Nappanee.  Military graveside services will be conducted by Nappanee American Legion. Memorials may be directed to the Nappanee American Legion.