Obituary of Marietta M. Yoder

Marietta Maurine Yoder, 95, of Iowa City, IA died peacefully at Pleasantview Home in Kalona on November 15, 2019, with family at her side.  Known by family and friends her entire life as “Betz”, she lived a full life and was a wonderful person, wife, mother, aunt (to many) and friend. 

Betz was born on February 12, 1924 in Missouri to Herbert and Emma (Swartzendruber) Hartzler, the fifth of ten children.  Betz graduated from Sharon High School in rural Iowa City in 1943, and enjoyed playing basketball and other sports of the day. 

In June, 1943 she married Calvin Yoder of rural Iowa City.  Shortly after being married, they moved to Sharon Center where they owned and operated a farm together.   Betz and Callie had 7 children.  Following Calvin’s death in 1973, Betz remained on the family farm and cared for a large garden and orchard that served to keep her and the children busy with chores of harvesting and preparing foods for freezing, canning, pickling and storing for year-round consumption by her family and the surrounding community.  Betz was a wonderful baker and cook.  Her children’s favorite foods were her lime chip pickles, sweet cinnamon rolls, apple butter and fruit pies.  Betz also raised chickens each year for the family and friends, and managed a large flock of sheep that kept her busy as a side project to regular farming operations for many years. 

Betz was a wonderful mother to her children.  She also loved caring for her grandchildren, and they enjoyed frequent trips to the farm to help grandma with the sheep, putting up sweetcorn, podding peas, or whatever the chore of the day might be.  In her later years she found pleasure traveling with her kids and grandkids to many places, sporting events, and to observe the beautiful scenery of God’s earth. 

Betz had a love for anything that her kids and grandchildren were involved in.  She enjoyed watching her grandchildren compete in school and club sport events, and in musical and theatre performances.  She enjoyed watching Hawkeye football and men’s and women’s basketball, and any evening she would be happy to watch a ball game at the park or on TV.

Betz was a longtime member of the Sharon Center United Methodist Church, participated in the choir, United Methodist Women, and their quilting group. 

Betz is survived by children Reg (Berta), Jackie Gibbs, Mike (Denise), Gary (Pam), Larry (LoTonia Beets), and Steve (Jami);  grandchildren, Joel (Sarrah), Darby (Freddy) Velarde, Nathan (Jenna) Gibbs, Colin (Anne), Nicole (Joe Lin), Justin Reed, Marissa Reed, Paige and Kellen (Cassie);   great-grandchildren Micah and Noah Yoder, Dustin Johnson, Dillon Johnson (Caitlin Nelson), Emily Velarde, Gracie Gibbs and Jamaris Ginger; and great-great granddaughter,  Allie Johnson.  She is survived by siblings Robert Hartzler, Larry Hartzler (Carolyn Stringer), Ruth (Don) Southwick, Wilma (Bill) Hankins and sister-in-law Dorothy Hartzler. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Calvin, her infant son Jeffrey, son-in-law James Gibbs and her siblings Ronald (Anna Mae) Hartzler, Vernon (Virginia) Hartzler, Eugene (Irene) Hartzler, Herbert Jr. Hartzler and Judy Weise.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, November 21, at Sharon Center United Methodist Church, 2804 - 520th St SW, Kalona, IA, with burial and fellowship immediately following.  Visitation at Gay & Ciha Funeral Home in Iowa City will be from 4 to 8 pm on Wednesday, November 20.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Sharon Center United Methodist Church or Pleasantview Home, Kalona. To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Farewell Callie-Betz.  We will miss you.