James D Yoder

James D. Yoder was born September 9, 1929 to Alfred L. and Zella Slayden Yoder at Kansas City, Missouri. Most of his childhood and adolescent years were spent near Harrisonville, MO., a story told in his books “The Yoder Outsiders” and “A Boy in a House of Shadows”.

He attributes his early Christian education largely to the Mennonite Bible Schools he attended each summer. He and his brother Al, along with his parents, became members of the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church, Garden City, MO., in 1947.

As a child, James’ poems were published in the Cass County Democrat. At 17, he passed the State Teacher’s Examinations and received his teaching certificate. He taught at Clearfork School, near Garden City, MO., for five years, receiving education during summer school at Central Missouri State. In 1952-55, James attended Goshen College and Goshen Biblical Seminary, where he completed three degrees. During his senior year, he married Lonabelle C. Jantzi from Adams, New York. Upon graduation from Seminary, James was pastor of the Sycamore Grove congregation for four years.

In 1959, James, Lonabelle, and their two children, Michael, and Angela, moved to Kansas City, MO., where James taught in the Hickman Mills School District. Receiving his M.S. in Counseling from Central Missouri State, he counseled in the secondary schools of Hickman Mills. Following the death of his daughter, Angela, James received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of MO., K.C., and was a licensed psychologist at the University Counseling Center and Adjunct Graduate Professor.

James began writing articles relating the thought of Viktor Frankl. He was invited to present a paper at the First World Congress of Logotherapy, held at the University of San Diego, where he met Frankl. He trained in the Institute of Logotherapy in Berkeley, CA., receiving certification as a Logotherapy Trainer. He founded the Kansas City Chapter of the Institute and served as executive director until he retired and moved to North Newton, KS. in 1991, and later to Hesston, KS. James taught logotherapy counseling techniques to many counselors, social workers, physicians and clergy. He continued to write, publish and read papers at five World Congresses of Logotherapy, both in the U.S. and in Europe.

James followed his interest in writing and story-telling and publishing eleven historical novels, a book on Logotherapy in counseling, and a memoir. Several of his novels won awards.

During his years in Kansas City, James was a member of the Rainbow Mennonite Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as a deacon. While a delegate to Western District Conference James attended Bethel College Mennonite church as a visitor. “When I retire,” James said, “I want to be a member of that church.” That dream became a reality when James and Lonabelle joined Bethel College Church in 1991. James frequently expressed his joy in the various choirs and music which, to him, inspired one’s heart beyond the ordinary. James frequently lectured and told stories from his writings at BCMC and in a variety of settings across Kansas. “My favorite hymn,” James said, is ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.’”

James is survived of the home, a son, Michael Lynn Yoder, and daughter-in-law, Karen Seibel of Lawrence, KS, and a step- granddaughter, Jamie Seibel-Sigmon, several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Lonabelle Yoder, a baby sister, Zella, a daughter, Angela Maria, his parents, Alf and Zella Yoder, his brother, Alfred Yoder, Jr., and his sister-in-law, Irene Yoder.

The funeral will be held at Bethel College Mennonite Church on a date to be determined with Associate Pastor Nathan Koontz presiding. A private burial service will be held at the Clearfork Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.