Leon C. Yoder Memorial International Student Aid Fund

He was only 23 years old when he died (April 5, 1965), but he left a legacy of hope, service, family joy, and a host of friends around the world.

Leon served in Java in Pax voluntary service for 17 months under the Mennonite Central Committee until he returned to the United States for treatment of the fatal disease of skin cancer.

A graduate of Goshen College, Leon was an economics major. He was a member of the Shore Mennonite Church, very active in college campus activities, especially Student Christian Association and music groups. During college he worked at Yoder Department Stores in Shipshewana and Topeka which were operated by his father.

Leon was not an “ordinary” young man even though his peer group writing about him in the College Record called him that, giving him probably the strongest affirmation any parent could hope for. For a student to say . . . “he was one of us” was a great tribute. The complete editorial is quoted here:

“He was a rather ordinary boy, the third of four children in an average close-knit Mennonite family. There was nothing spectacular about his growing up, just the common everyday events that are special only to those closely involved.

“Eventually he came to Goshen College and merged into the stream of class routine, papers, tests and extra-curricular activities. He was a typical student, average and yet distinct. He liked to sing and fly air planes and smiled more readily than most. He was pleasant; he was a ‘good guy;’ but he wasn’t spectacular in what he did or said.

“After graduating from college he decided that his Christian commitment compelled him to engage in an active service witness. So he entered Pax like many young men have and will. He was earnest and dedicated and wrote letters to his friends here at home telling them of the needs in Indonesia. But he wasn’t eloquent; he didn’t write searing reports of injustice, poverty and ignorance. He didn’t overdramatize his commitment; he served quietly and faithfully in an ordinary day-to-day living witness.

“Yes, Leon was one of us. An ordinary, unspectacular Christian who was concerned with living his commitment in his honest and unspectacular daily living. Like us he was no great saint; he was human with human failings. His fame was limited to his family, his college friends, his community and church and the people he served in Indonesia. He hadn’t really made any name for himself in our church or society.

“He was one of us and he still is, but now in a special sense. He died quietly and almost as unspectacularly as he had lived. He faced his death with the same committed unspectacular faith that he had lived by. Death held no fear for him. He only regretted that his everyday routine could not have given more service to others.

“Leon was one of us. His life held many events familiar to us all. And his quiet witness and faith, even when dying, has given us the Easter story again in terms that we as ordinary college students can understand best. Perhaps this was Leon’s greatest service of all.

Wilbert Shenk, Overseas Director for MCC in 1965 wrote:

“He was a deeply devoted Christian. In his manner of living and dying he showed that when faith lights a soul, man gains a profound peace, the strength to love, and uncommon courage.

“During the last days of preparation for leaving Indonesia, Leon expressed gratitude to God that he had been given extra days for fellowship with those with whom he had been working. Repeatedly, as he lay ill, his conversation and thoughts turned toward the work in Indonesia that he had been forced to lay down.

“In many ways, Leon showed that his sense of

values was good. He believed in people and was willing to invest himself in them in many ways.”

Leon was a very personable young man. He wrote long

letters home giving parents hour by hour details of his daily work — the kind of letters parents appreciate. Nearly every letter carried with it his own personal commitment to Christ and something of his “close” home and parental affection. For instance this from a letter dated December 27, 1963.

“If anyone asks or wants to do something for me — good books are always appreciated. Here are a few titles I would like. Don’t ask me why I picked these at the present time — no special reason — I just think they’d be good practical and interesting reading. (1) “How God Leads Us”, B. Charles Hostetter; (2) “Bringing up Children,” Langden and Stout; (3) “Strictly Personal,” Eugenia Price; (4) “Mennonite Cookbook.” (I’m going to be a bachelor.)

“Mom, could you send me your recipe for home made ice cream (the kind I liked so much). I think it was made with vanilla and brown sugar, I don’t remember. And be specific with directions I can follow. Don’t say a dab of that and a dab of this.”

Several months later he commented about enjoying the Gospel Herald that comes two months late, but requests his folks not to send it airmail, thus saving expense.

Leon was well organized. He kept a detailed daily record of expenses. One could observe his Christian commitment in his expense account. Every week a liberal “offering” was recorded for the church. In this same book he kept a record of the addresses of 69 friends to whom he wrote regularly. A code was behind each name showing when he wrote and the occasion for the letter. Also recorded were select poems, orientation notes, and little gems to live by. For instance, he recorded ten ways “To Blow a Unit Apart”, and ten ways “To Build a Unit.” He suggested reading I Cor. 13 as a closing tonic in this series.