Marie Jane Yoder

Marie Jane (Haney) Yoder, 96, of Middlebury, passed into the presence of Jesus on Dec. 18, 2024, at Waterford Crossing, Goshen, Indiana.

She was born Dec. 13, 1928, in Goshen, to Jacob and Dora (Shidler) Haney. She grew up in the Holland Dutch community of East Goshen, where she and her sisters pulled a wagon door-to-door, selling celery grown in her grandparents' marsh. She graduated from Goshen High School, where she played basketball, ran track and was a Redskins cheerleader.

On May 6, 1951, Marie married Allen Yoder Jr. at Goshen City Church of the Brethren. They raised their four children on dairy farms in the Goshen/Middlebury area. She was often the solo parent, (or CEO, as she called it), as Al traveled to develop the customer base in the early years of Jayco. She was a Girl Scout leader and was active in Women in Mission at Silver Street/Silverwood Mennonite Church, where she taught Sunday school for 50 years. She planted the Word of God in young hearts with lessons, carefully crafted visuals, and many parties.

Marie faced every challenge head-on. A self-taught pianist, she gave piano lessons to supplement the family income. She later researched exercise, added elements of dance, and created Body Experience Exercise. She and "her girls" taught classes in YMCA's and schools in northern Indiana and several states.

Marie gave generously of her resources, and in later years enjoyed traveling around the world with Al, making friends in many countries. She radiated love, joy and spunk. Marie was unapologetically herself.

She was preceded in death by her husband, who died April 19, 2016; her parents; siblings Mary (infant), Ruth (Glenn) Miller, Nellie (Harold) Lantz, Abraham "Jr." (Sharol Miller) Haney, and sister-in-law Sharon (Mann) Haney.

She is survived by a brother, Ralph Haney, Goshen; children Martin "Mike" (Rhonda) Yoder of Middlebury, Kent (Gaye) Yoder of Middlebury, Dru (Rick) Gentle of Goshen, and Scott (Sarah) Yoder of Middlebury; 13 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren, with one on the way.

A private burial will take place at Cornell Cemetery. Visitation will be on Jan. 11, from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life service at 10:30 a.m., both at Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Silverwood Mennonite Church or Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, is assisting with arrangements.