Iris Marcella Lyndaker

Iris Marcella (Mast) Lyndaker, known to her children and grandchild as Mommy and Nana, was born in Sarasota, Florida on September 5, 1972 to Paul Mast and Catherine (Stutzman) Mast. She is survived by her husband Arthur Lyndaker, children Collin (Rhoda), Andrea (Conner) Johnson, Graham (Jada), Evan, Olivia, and granddaughter, Shiloh Johnson; siblings Rose (Steve) Cooley, Cathy (Mike) Kramer, and PJ (Jessica) Mast; parents Catherine Mast and Paul Mast; parents-in-law, Art and Emma Lyndaker, and a large extended family. On August 31, 2023 Iris died after an intense two months battling the complications of cancer, and was joyously welcomed into heaven by her beloved Jesus and unborn son, Justin.
Although her family never stayed in one place for too long, three notable locations where Iris lived in childhood were Florida, South Carolina, and Ohio. An unexpected fact about Iris is that as a child she wanted to be an astronaut. This desire was probably influenced by her many happy memories flying with her family in her dad's Cessna. For many people, frequent moves, family upheaval, and difficult experiences might push them away from God, but for Iris, these painful events gave her a desperate sense of need for the presence of Jesus in her life. In addition, being the new person in so many places likely helped develop her strong sense of empathy, which many people in this room have experienced at one time or another.
She met her future husband as a teenager attending Shekinah Christian School in Plain City, and you could say neither of them was quite impressed by the other initially. They began to see each other in a new way while on chorale tour with Rosedale Bible College in Europe, and on April 2nd, 1994, they were married. A year later they left everything they knew to move to Red Lake, Ontario to work for Impact North Ministries. Iris didn't know it at the time, but that two-year commitment resulted in her spending the rest of her life in the North.
Iris loved well, and as a result, she was and is greatly loved. You didn't have to do anything to earn her love - the fact that you were you was enough. Her house was built around warm hospitality. During her ten years in Poplar Hill, Iris fed hundreds of people, especially children, around her kitchen table. She patiently taught her five children to spell, multiply by nine, and write college essays, despite the resistance they often offered in return. Iris was a true teacher, and her love of learning instilled a passion in her children to be life-long learners. Most importantly, Iris infused her great love of Jesus into everything she taught. Forgiveness was extremely important to her, and she frequently reminded her family to set bitterness aside in order to forgive those who had hurt them. For Iris, forgiveness was not an option, it was a necessity. Her love of Scripture was evident to all who knew her well, and she clung to the Word of God as her lifeline. After returning to Red Lake in 2016, Iris spent her remaining years building strong relationships with people in the community
Immanuel. God with us. Iris' favorite name for God. Every Christmas, her awe that the God of the universe would come down as a helpless infant to bring his people to himself struck her anew. Even in the hospital, Iris talked about God being there with her, as well as with each of her children spread out over the globe. Spending years intentionally cultivating a heart of thankfulness enabled Iris to see God's provision even while she suffered in the hospital. At the same time, Iris was quick to share her struggles.
In a Facebook post she made earlier this summer, she wrote, "Can I be honest this morning and ask for your prayers? When the pain is high (like most of last night) I feel so discouraged and disappointed and afraid of what my life is becoming. This morning I'm reading Job (it's been one of my favorite Bible books for a long time). Though my heart of hearts wants to, I'm struggling to say with Job, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!" " Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?"
Her post continued with, "Please pray for grace, comfort and courage today. For provision. For relief from pain. For His will to be done. For His glory to be seen. Thank you."
Despite her moments of struggle, Iris allowed God to mold her heart in such a way that even in times like these, she was also able to declare another favorite passage from Job. It reads:
"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!
A visitation will take place on Friday September 8th, 2023 from 5 PM to 8 PM at the United Bethel Mennonite Church 11342 Lafayette Plain City Rd, Plain City, OH 43064. Funeral Services will take place on Saturday September 9th, 2023 at 2 PM also at the church. Interment to follow at Lighthouse Fellowship Cemetery.
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