Shane Ryan Yoder

1981 - 2014

Our beloved Shane Ryan Yoder went home to be with the Lord on the afternoon of Nov. 5, 2014, in Fairbanks. Shane Ryan Yoder was born April 27, 1981 in Elkhart, Indiana. His parents are Dennis and Shirley Yoder, of Wakarusa, Indiana. 
After growing up in Indiana, Shane joined the U.S. Army shortly after and in response to the events of 9/11 and ended up being stationed at Fort Wainwright. He decided to stay in nearby Fairbanks after being honorably discharged. Shortly afterward he married his wife, on Dec. 2, 2006, and settled in to make his home in the Last Frontier. While living here he was a proud member of the Alaska State Defense Force under Major Bennett and became a brother-in-arms yet again to his fellow ASDF members. 
He was active in the Fairhill Church drama team and liked to sing with the Praise Team. He also attended the University of Alaska and achieved academic honors when graduating from the Automotive Technology Program. He tried his hard-working hands at several trades before attaining his job at Eielson Air Force Base working for Gulf Coast Enterprises in the food service industry under Kate Lutz. 
He had achieved shift supervisor status and was being considered for the assistant project managers position when he was unexpectedly taken from us. In the middle of all this, he became the best and most beloved husband, stepfather and grandpa you could ever ask for, taking care of his wife lovingly after her recent surgery and cheerfully taking on the task of being probably the youngest grandpa in the state. He was fiercely protective of those boys and his wife and many times stated that he would do anything for them.
He loved to tinker with cars, listen to his iPod, collect knives, and fish whenever and wherever he could. When he wasn't doing those things, he was hanging with his friends and family and playing with his grandsons.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Doña Yoder; step-daughter, Jessica Barkwell (Simon), and two adored grandsons, Gabriel and Evan; his parents, Dennis and Shirley Yoder, of Wakarusa, Indiana; his two grandfathers, Merrill Yoder and Roy Helmuth; one sister, Rhonda (Dan) Hipskind of Wabash, Indiana; five brothers, Jeffrey (Jill) Yoder of Wakarusa, Indiana; Matthew (Elizabeth) Yoder of Goshen, Indiana; Robert Yoder of Wakarusa, Indiana; Joshua (Deborah) Yoder, of Mishawaka, Indiana; Adam Yoder, and also nephews, Caleb, Cullen and Benjamen Hipskind, Dominic, Connor, Brennan, Zachary, Alexander Yoder and Andrew Yoder; and nieces, Olivia and Evelyn Hipskind and Isabella Yoder; by father and mother-in-law Carol and Lyman Vincent, of Fairbanks, and brothers-in-law, Timothy Vincent (Sherri) and Rusty Vincent (Alicia) along with their children, Larissa, Lance, Caleb, Abigail and Jesse; and Tim and Sherri's daughters, Amanda and Kayla, as well as many beloved friends whom he considered family, including Brandon Frone and Jaye Palmer, not to mention his church family and his work family.
He will be most remembered for his radiant smile, quirky sense of humor and his big heart full of unconditional love. He was brother to many, enemy to few, a good man to have on your side, and will be most sorely missed. Go rest in peace, our beloved soldier; we were honored to spend these cherished moments with you and we look forward to seeing you again someday.
Memorial Services will be 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at Fairhill Community Church of God, 101 City Lights Blvd., Fairbanks, AK 99712.