Darvin Eugene Yoder

Darvin Eugene Yoder was born April 29, 1946, the son of Oren and Mary Kate (Blosser) Yoder of rural Parnell, Iowa, members of West Union Mennonite Church. Darvin grew up on a farm just a stone’s throw from Greene Center corner in Iowa County, and attended the Greene Center one room schoolhouse as a child. He attended high school at Iowa Mennonite School, and went on to study sculpture at Hesston and Bethel College in Kansas under professors Robert Regier and Paul Friesen. While studying in the joint Hesston/Bethel art program, he met his future wife Martha Becker. After graduation, he served as a teacher in Laos for his alternative service during the Vietnam war, where Martha joined him to be married on July 7, 1969. 

When they returned to the US in 1970, they lived in Iowa City while Darvin completed his Master's degree at the University of Iowa. Their daughter Kate was born in Iowa City in 1972. After earning his Master’s, Darvin taught art for a few years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where their son Ben was born in 1974. Their next move was to White Pigeon, Michigan where they volunteered at Youth Village, a camp for at-risk teen boys. Their daughter Anna was born in Michigan in 1975. In April 1977 they moved to Iowa, where Darvin farmed his Uncle Ed Yoder’s land with the help of his uncle and father, his wife Martha, and as they grew older, his children. Shortly after their move to Iowa, Darvin took a half-time position at Iowa Mennonite School (now Hillcrest Academy) where he taught art for 36 years. Through all his years as a part-time farmer, part-time teacher, Darvin continued to work in sculpture, adding, one by one, to his growing collection of “marble rollers”. His hands-on sculptures were a source of fascination and delight to the many guests in their home on the farm over 44 years. Darvin was known as a follower of Jesus, a student and teacher of the Bible, a lover of singing and a songleader, a gregarious lover of people–a good friend and neighbor and teacher. 

In November 2021 Darvin and Martha moved to Oaknoll retirement residence in Iowa City. Martha died there in July 2024, and Darvin joined her on February 25, 2025. 

Darvin was preceded in death by his parents and his older brothers James Yoder (who died at birth) and Arlin (Mary Lou) Yoder, and by his wife Martha. He is survived by his brother Eldon (Phyllis) Yoder, his sister Aldeen (Eugene) Wenger, children Kate (Keith) Slater, Ben (Anna) Wyse, and Anna (Dave) Geyer, and grandchildren Levi, Rachel, Jesse, Vic, Sam, Martha, and Desmond.

Visitation with the family will be Friday, March 14 from 4-7 pm at Hillcrest Academy Celebration Hall lobby, 1421 540th St SW, Kalona, IA. During visitation, the art gallery will be open so that visitors can view the family’s collective art show, “Generation”, which is on display through May. The gallery will also be open on Saturday afternoon, March 15, from 1-3 pm.

A memorial service will be held at West Union Mennonite Church, 3253 305th St, Parnell, IA, at 10:30 am on March 15, 2025, followed by lunch and a time of sharing stories and memories. 

Darvin chose to donate his body to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for medical research. A private burial will take place at the West Union Cemetery when his ashes are returned to the family. 

A memorial fund has been established for Mennonite Central Committee  https://mcc.org/donate.