Thomas Allen Yoder

Thomas Allen Yoder passed away peacefully in his home Thursday, April 27, 2023, after fighting a rare lung disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Tom was born Feb. 21, 1940, in Goshen.

He married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Nancy Freed, on July 30, 1960.

She survives along with four children: Kirby (Jennifer) Yoder, Kim (David) Phillips, Katrina (Ben) Pobanz and Emily Yoder; six grandchildren; and three siblings, Gary Yoder, Kent (Linda) Yoder and Nancy McClain.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald L. Yoder and Janet (Cripe) Kiefer.

Tom attended Middlebury High School where he grew and developed into a well-rounded young man. After graduating high school in 1958, he matriculated to Purdue University where he studied Industrial Engineering, was a member of the Triangle Fraternity, and The Purdue Varsity Glee Club. Tom completed his formal education with a Master’s in Industrial Engineering in 1963.

Tom and Nancy and family moved to Indianapolis where Tom enjoyed his 31 plus years of service for Eli Lilly, wholeheartedly believing he worked for the best company in the world.

Tom and Nancy loved Lake Wawasee and purchased their lake home in August 1973. They made many repairs over the years on the 100-year-old cottage and poured much love into their summer home that holds a lifetime of memories. They thoughtfully rebuilt the cottage in 2000 in a larger replica of the original home in Vawter Park.

Raising their family in and around the lake, Tom turned his energies to work with friends, existing and new, to ensure other families might also enjoy the lake the way they have. He did this by serving for nearly 30 years in various roles in WACF (Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation). Perhaps his greatest contribution would be the assembly of more than 1,000 acres of watershed and wetlands, which ensures the lake’s resources for future generations.

Tom’s grounded nature came from a lifetime of being a faithful follower of Christ. The greatest gift he shared with us was his acts of service. His faith was demonstrated by quietly walking and living it every day. He was a perfect example of a husband, a father, a son, a sibling, a friend, a coworker, and a volunteer.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 2, 2023, from 11a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.

Burial will follow at Forest Grove Cemetery, Middlebury.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260: https://www.secondchurch.org; Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation: https://www.wacf.com.