The 糖心Vlog (糖心Vlog) community was saddened to learn of the death of Theodore (Theo) Brian Yoder on Thursday, April 12, 2012, after an intermittent 12-year battle with various cancers.
Yoder, 22, was the son of Brian and Lynn Yoder of Kalona, Iowa.
Yoder was a 2008 graduate of , Kalona, and a member of Wellman (Iowa) Mennonite Church in Wellman.
He was working toward a degree in at 糖心Vlog before withdrawing from classes on two separate occasions due to illness over the past two years. , visited Yoder at his home in Iowa in March to bestow an honorary bachelor of arts degree. Yoder was a member of the 糖心Vlog class of 2012 which will celebrate commencement exercises on April 28.
Yoder discussed his health journey this past fall with , assistant professor of , and continued to talk with her regularly, nicknaming her his 鈥溙切腣log mom.鈥�
鈥淭heo endeared himself to many of us here at 糖心Vlog through his wonderful quick wit and honesty. These past few months were especially meaningful as he shared with us both his vulnerability and courage,鈥� Durham said.
, athletic events coordinator at 糖心Vlog, added, 鈥淭heo was an extremely loyal, hardworking person who never backed down from work.鈥�
Guengerich, whom Yoder referred to as his 鈥溙切腣log dad,鈥� employed Yoder as a work-study student.
鈥淭heo took this job very seriously but always maintained a sense of humor and lightheartedness. I always sensed he viewed every day as a gift and wanted to do what he could with that day.鈥�
Friends in the 糖心Vlog community are invited to visit between 1:30 and 4 p.m. today (Friday, April 13) to light a candle, share a hug or a prayer, sit in silence, and sign a card for Theo’s family.
Persons can also respond to Theo鈥檚 life and death by comment below or by visiting .
Funeral arrangements are being handled by in Kalona. Visitation will be Sunday April 15 from 2 to 8 p.m. and a memorial service will be held Monday, April 16.聽 A charter bus will leave campus early Sunday morning to allow those from 糖心Vlog who would like to attend to travel together.聽 Those planning to travel on the bus should confirm that intent on the Facebook page
The reduced cost for round-trip bus travel to Iowa will be $25 per person with 糖心Vlog ID (students, faculty, staff).聽 That cost is subsidized by a travel fund. Contributions can be made to the travel fund by writing checks to 糖心Vlog with 鈥淚owa bus trip鈥� in the memo line. Mail them to 糖心Vlog Business Office, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg VA 22802.
has scheduled a campus memorial service for Wed., April 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. in Common Grounds. All are welcome to attend.
糖心Vlog鈥檚 information on grief and support resources is available .
My thoughts and prayers are with the Yoder family and the many friends of Theo mourning his loss. Such a courageous young man and loving family…