June 7, 1942 - March 2, 2022
Aquilla I. Yoder, 79, of Belleville, passed away at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital.
Born July 7, 1942, he was a son of the late Iddo I. and Sylvia (Kanagy) Yoder. On June 4, 1961, he married his loving wife of 60 years Naomi S. (Spicher) Yoder who survives.
Also surviving are five children, Kathy J. Kleiner and husband Bill of Burlington, N.C.; Mervin J. and wife Phyllis (Yoder) of Mifflintown; Victor G. of Reedsville; Aquilla I. Jr. (AJ) and wife Denise (Metzler) of Hershey; and Darren J. and wife Deb (Metzler) of Belleville, grandchildren, Justin Kleiner and wife Jenny, Deanna (Kleiner) Scotton and husband Daniel, Benjamin Yoder and wife Sara, Andrea Grimm and husband Nick, Alissa Good and husband Josh, Ryan Yoder, Abigail Yoder, Ashton Yoder, Danae Yoder, Brayden Yoder and Madison Yoder; eight great-grandchildren, Jadon, Ethan and Micah Scotton, Abel and Selah Yoder, Ember Good, Cove Grimm, and Jaidyn Ford; as well as his siblings, Dorothy Yoder of Guys Mills, Lewis Yoder and wife Ruth of Lewisburg, and Daniel Yoder and wife Rachel of Lewisburg.
He was preceded in death by: his brothers Iddo Jr., John and Ezra, his sisters Bertha Miller and Susie Williams, brother-in- law, Aaron Yoder, an infant daughter Rachel and infant granddaughter Danielle.
“Quill,” as he was affectionately known, was a member of Allensville Mennonite Church. He was born in Delaware then moved with his family to Catlett, Va., and finally settling in Belleville. In 1963, he purchased his father’s dairy farm in Belleville. He was a dairy farmer until he retired from dairying in 2005. He then continued to raise corn and beans, ran a small excavation business and hauled items for the Amish. Quill loved “Big Valley” often commenting “God must’ve made Big Valley first, then the rest of the world.”
Quill was a born again Christian and his passion was raising his children to know the way of Christ, to help those in need and to pass out God’s word. He and Naomi became members of the Gideons International early in their marriage believing it is important to get Bibles in the hands of all people. He not only supported Gideons International financially, but also smuggled Bibles to communist China in the early 1970s, would hand out Bibles at the local schools and hospitals along with regular visits to local jails and state penitentiaries. His burden for the lost caused him to share his testimony and the saving power Jesus to anyone who would listen.
He served on the Mifflin County Ambulance Club, sat on the PA Farmers Assoc. advisory board, the Union Township planning commission and helped with many MDS cleanup projects. During his retirement he was often found with men from the area at the Upper Room coffee shop.
Quill and Naomi were inseparable and loved to travel, go out to eat and meet their friends for coffee. His grandchildren called him “Pop-pop” and loved their visits to the farm.
During the last four months of his life, “dad” needed assistance as he lived at his home. We, the Yoder family, want to show our deepest love and appreciation to the following wonderful group of caregivers: Laura Kauffman, Nancy Frankhouser, Shirley White, Susie Peachey and the Kevin Stoltzfus family!
His viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Locust Grove Mennonite Church. His memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Allensville Mennonite Church with Pastors Merv Yoder, AJ Yoder and Bob Zook officiating. A luncheon will follow the service at Allensville Mennonite Church.
Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family at Locust Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Gideons International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214.
Arrangements are under the care of Henderson Funeral Home, Belleville.
Online condolences may be offered at: www.hendersonfuneralhomes.net.