Phyllis Pamperien Yoder
Death notice

Paid Obituary

Phyllis Pamperien Yoder, 91, of Saugatuck, MI, died Sunday, January 16, 2005 at her son Chris's home in Battle Creek, MI.

She was born March 30, 1913 to Frederick G. and Lilian (Austermell) Pamperien in La Grange, IL. She graduated from Lyons Township High School, where she sat in Art Class beside Charles Vickery, a later noted marine artist. She attended Community College, Whittier College in California (the class behind Richard Nixon) and graduated in 1935 from Earlham College, Richmond, IN.

Phyllis worked for the American Butter Institute located in the attic of the Chicago Board of Trade, testing butter for impurities. For the next 65 years, she would only have Land of Lakes Butter on her table. During the war years, she worked for ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America) as a metalographer, shutting down the production line on occasion when it failed to produce aluminum fit for use in allied aircraft. As plant photographer she was also key to the War Bond efforts.

On June 28, 1940, she married O. B. Yoder. He preceded her in death on December 6, 1995. Surviving are her sister, Elizabeth Schultz, Arlington Heights, IL; her sons, Chris (Carroll) Yoder of Battle Creek and Kirby (Betty) Yoder of Hendersonville, NC; grandchildren Christian (Katherine) Yoder of Mt. Juliet, TN; Jerusha Hayden Yoder, Columbus, OH; Ray (Rose) Yoder, Clinton, IA; Roy (Sue) Yoder of Davenport, IA; Ryan (Alyssa) Yoder, Hendersonville, NC; sister-in-law Betty (Mrs. Raymond) of Elkhart, IN; and four great-grandchildren. She was much beloved by her family and a host of friends around the world.

She and O.B. enjoyed an active career with ALCOA, living in Maryville, TN; Mt. Lebanon, PA; Davenport, IA; Tokyo and Nikko, Japan; and the Netherlands before their retirement in 1973 to Saugatuck. They were members of the Douglas Community Church.

Phyllis and her family summered in Saugatuck beginning in the 1920's and have owned a cottage property in the township since 1927. She loved gardening, shopping, crafts, reading mysteries, and was an accomplished painter. At the time of her death, she had over two years remaining on her Michigan Driver's License.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 22, with Rev. Dr. Daniel N. Miller officiating at the Dykstra Funeral Home, 520 Lake Street, Saugatuck, MI , followed by interment at the Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to The Phyllis Yoder Memorial Fund, Herrick Library, 300 South River Street, Holland, MI 49423.

Arrangements by the Dykstra Funeral Home of Saugatuck and Bachman Hebble Funeral Service of Battle Creek, Michigan.