John J. Yoder, 82

GREENWOOD - John J. Yoder of Greenwood died Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford. He was 82.

He was born June 12, 1924, to David and Savilla Yoder.

John spent his life connected to the land.

He grew up on a farm and then he bought his own. He raised at various times, chickens, turkeys, pigs, but his special joy was his herd of beef cattle.

In 1946, John volunteered for a relief ship that took horses to war-ravaged Poland.

In his 20s, he organized chicken catching crews and began his lifelong love of trucking.

He developed Blue Jay Trucking Co., hauling live chickens, frozen food and dry freight.

He became a buyer for Bird-In-Hand Poultry at the Poultry Exchange and later became a charter bus driver and a propane hauler for Tri-Gas & Oil.

John was a member of Laws Mennonite Church and was a steadfast supporter of the church and Greenwood Mennonite School. He served on the school board for 18 years, 15 as chairman, as well as on the building committee.

He was actively involved in the school farm project. He had also been a board member of Mennonite Mission Associates, a skilled Sunday school teacher and Bible school leader.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Yoder.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Embleton Yoder; they would have celebrated 57 years of marriage on June 21; five daughters, Bonnie Yoder of Milford and fiancé, Billy Smith, Judi Morgan and her husband, Fred of Harrington, Joan Mills and her husband, John of Greenwood, Ronda Weber and her husband, Lyn of Greenwood, and Donna Jones and her husband, Dale of Greenwood; five grandsons, Jonathan Hofstetter and his wife, Danielle of Lancaster, Pa., David Hofstetter and his wife, Jacque, Andrew Mills, Jared Weber and Robert Weber, all of Greenwood; three granddaughters, Kelly Sverduk and her husband, Lee of Garrett Park, Md., Laura Jones and Amy Jones, both of Greenwood; one great-granddaughter, Annika Hofstetter of Lancaster, Pa.; and nine siblings, David Yoder, Amos Yoder, Daniel Yoder, Paul Yoder, Luke Yoder, Jesse Yoder and Naomi Yoder, Ruth Bontrager, and Miriam Hull.

His viewing will be 6-9 p.m. Sunday in the Greenwood Mennonite School.

Following the burial at 1 p.m. at the Greenwood Mennonite Church, family and friends are invited to a celebration of John"s life at 2 p.m. at the Greenwood Mennonite School.

Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the Greenwood Mennonite School, 12802 Mennonite School Road, Greenwood, DE 19950.

Arrangements are by Fleischauer Funeral Home, Greenwood.