Yoder, Leona Ferne Brenneman

Leona Ferne Brenneman Yoder was born Oct. 5, 1925, in rural Kalona, Iowa, the daughter of Irwin B. and Mattie (Miller) Brenneman. She graduated from Kalona High School in 1944, attended Goshen College and La Junta Colorado School of Nursing, and graduated in 1950 with a B.S. in nursing. Leona worked as a registered nurse for Doctors Sattler, Beckman, and Koenig. She was a volunteer on-call nurse during the startup years of Pleasantview Home. Leona married L. David Yoder on Sept. 6, 1951. Leona was lifelong member of East Union Mennonite Church where she taught Sunday school, Bible School, and was a member of WMSC. She was a charter member of the Kalona Lioness Club and served as treasurer from 1979 to 2012. Leona was a devoted wife, mother, and nurse, and enjoyed helping people. Leona was a resident of Pleasantview Home for 2 1/2 years where she died on Friday, March 1, 2013, at the age of 87 years.

Leona is survived by her husband, L. David Yoder; a son, Leon and wife, Suzanne Yoder, of Johns Creek, Ga.; granddaughter, Katherine Yoder; niece, Lucy Ann Conley and husband, Ottis, of Crockett, Ky.; nephew, Keith Brenneman and wife, Robin, of Akron, Ohio; and close friends, Louise Sattler and Ruth Ann Yoder of Kalona. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Edna Niles; brother, Harold Brenneman; and nephew, Lon Brenneman.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in the East Union Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Pleasantview Home Chapel in Kalona. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Pleasantview Home and Iowa City Hospice. Messages may be sent to the family at .

Published March 3, 2013 in The Gazette