Enos W Yoder

Enos was known as “Traindawdy” to his beloved family. Enos and his family moved to Sarasota in 1960. He and his wife Fannie lived in El Dorado AR from approximately 1974 through 1982, working at a nursing home which was a Voluntary Service unit of the Rosedale Mennonite Conference. During those years they got to meet many VS workers serving there from all over the US. They returned to Sarasota in 1982. Enos was a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church, Sarasota FL.

The oldest of 11 children, Enos grew up in a large Amish family. Due to severe respiratory allergies, he was the one who helped his mother around the house with the younger children, including cooking, cleaning and even helping sew clothes for the family. Though he only attended grade school, he went on as an adult to get his GED and even took some college level courses and taught at the local vocational school.

He could fix anything, and had small engine repair shops in Garnett KS, Goshen IN and in Pinecraft. When he moved to Sarasota he worked for Sears Roebuck repairing small appliances, sewing machines and vacuums. In later years he was a machinist for a commercial pump company. Of course, he was always the one who was called to fix household emergencies – too many times at night and on holidays! He was a skilled craftsman and built his own home in KS, AR and Sarasota. He was somewhat of an artist and always enjoyed drawing Dagwood and Disney characters for the kids!

He enjoyed gardening, riding his motorcycle at one time, sailing, and of course, his all-time favorite hobby of steam trains and locomotives. Enos was a founding member and the first president of the Florida Live Steamers club. He designed the logo for the club. He built at least 15 steam locomotives and encouraged and assisted family members and friends to build their own locomotives. He willingly shared his narrow gauge plans and quite a few have been built with those plans. He loved to give rides and had his own personal tracks at his homes in AR and Sarasota.

He and his wife loved to travel and after retirement spent many summers traveling with a small camper to CO, IN and NC. Despite never having a large salary, they lived frugally and were able to travel to Europe twice and to the Holy Lands once.

He lived long enough to enjoy the fifth generation of three little great-great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, especially the little ones who knew him as “Traindawdy”! “God is Great and God is Good” was almost a daily exclamation!

He is survived by his children Lovina and husband Ben Keim, William Yoder and wife Galina, Sarah Slabach, and Clara and husband Orlin Gingerich; 10 grandchildren Kirby and Michael Keim, Brenda Noffsinger, Jeremy Yoder, Alison Kelley, Sherri Tennerino, Angela Slabach and Mario, Curtis and Craig Gingerich; and 2 Step-granddaughters Elena Tovstaya and Masha Vasilchenko.

17 great-grandchildren Jessica Bayne, Joshua Noffsinger, Nicole McGough, Erin, Daniel and Megan Keim, Isabella and Greta Yoder, Juliana and Colin Kelley, Cooper and Ava Tennerino, Delyla Rodgers, Davian Slabach, Marco and Sawyer Gingerich, and Camden Dillon; and 4 step great-grandchildren Masha and Emili Tovstaya and Vasilina and Denis Vasilchenko; 5 great-great grandchildren Dustin, Mason and twins Knox and Isla McGough (born 4/14/22) and Ellie Bayne.

A brother Ezra Yoder, Shipshewana IN; two sisters, Martha Thomas, Bradenton FL, and Sarah Marie Miller, Bremen IN.; and a sister-in-law Ada Mae Yoder, Shipshewana IN.

He is preceded in death by his wife Fannie and daughter Mary Ellen; parents William C. and Sarah Yoder; brothers Chris, Levi, William Jr., Rudy and Clarence Yoder; and sisters Elizabeth Brown and Katie Miller.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held Monday, April 18th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Bethel Mennonite Church, 2985 Bethel Lane, Sarasota FL. Funeral service will be Tuesday, April 19th, at 10:00 AM at Bethel Mennonite Church, 2985 Bethel Lane, Sarasota FL with visitation one hour prior. A graveside service will follow at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota.

Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Yoder family.