Memorial
Julius “Jules” Yoder, 94, passed away on April 19, 2024, at Mill Pond Nursing Home in Ankeny, Iowa, from natural causes. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who never backed down from any challenge and stayed strong until the end. Jules was born on January 9, 1930, in New York, NY, the son of Julius and Barbara (Rudisill) Yoder. He lived in Forest Hills, NY, until 1970, when he moved to Marion, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his adult life.
He is survived by his children Linda (Mike) Bauer, James F. (“Jim”) Yoder, and Jennifer (Shawn) Rigby; his nephew Michael Yoder; and his grandchildren R.J. Krohn, Brandon (Catherine) Yoder, James C. (Anne) Yoder, Andrew (Emily) Yoder, Skylar Rigby, Kylie Rigby, and Kayci Rigby. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother John, wife Hannelore (“Lore”), and youngest son Kenneth.
As a child, Jules possessed an insatiable interest in learning how things “worked” and would take apart small electronic devices to discover their inner workings. This curiosity directed him into the Air Force where he mastered the skill of being a ham radio operator during the Berlin Airlift at the end of WW2 – an interest he continued to be involved in years later. While stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, Jules met the love of his life, Hannelore. It was love at first sight, and once his time in the military was over, he moved to his father's home in Forest Hills, New York, where he worked for Mars Aircraft Radio Company and raised Linda, Jim, and Kenneth, and where Jennifer was born. Jules’ experience in the Air Force led him to a B.S. from the Polytechnic Institute of New York City in electrical engineering. He quickly obtained a position with Collins Radio (now Collins Aerospace) moved the family to Marion, IA, where Jules excelled in his career for over 30 years designing, developing, and testing cockpit instrumentation for various commercial and military airplanes.
Jules’ hobbies were as rich and varied as his professional life. He was an avid stamp collector and passionate about model trains, spending countless hours creating intricate landscapes for his cherished train sets. He enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren in their school activities and sporting events, traveling to see family and friends with his wife, running in road races, organizing annual family camping trips, and caring for his and his wife’s beloved dachshunds.
There will be a Celebration of Life Mass at St. Patrick’s Church in Cedar Rapids on Monday, April 29 at 10:00 am, followed by his funeral interment at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors. The family will host a visitation at Cedar Memorial on Sunday, April 28 from 2-4 pm. Flowers may be sent to Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, IA.