Sara Lee Yoder, 86, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died Monday, March 10, 2008, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Sara Lee was born March 29, 1921, in Grundy Center, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Flora (Parker) Yoder. She attended and graduated from Grundy Center High School. Sara Lee lived in Grundy Center her entire life. Sara Lee trusted Christ as her Savior at an early age and she was a member of First Baptist Church in Grundy Center where she was recently honored for her 50th year as being Missionary Treasurer. She was a Sunday school teacher and active in all women's organizations of the church. She was a member of the Business Women's Club and a member of the Grundy Center Women's Club. Sara Lee had an impressive list of community service accomplishments. She served as Deputy Recorder from 1940-1946, Treasurer for the City of Grundy Center, Treasurer of Grundy Center School District and served as a member of the first Board of Directors of the Senior Housing Development. She served as Treasurer of the Grundy County Cemetery Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Center.
Sara Lee was an employee of the Grundy National Bank from 1947 to 1989. She was a vice-president of GNB, and the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors.
She has also served as head of the Easter Seal Society, head of Red Cross work in Grundy County, Secretary for the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Grundy Center School District Foundation, and was a member of the Grundy Center School Dollars for Scholars. In 1994 Sara Lee was named Grundy Center Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
She is survived by her loving family- Jaime Paige of Grundy Center; Bill Raney of Reinbeck; Dorothy Braseth of Minnesota; Robin Della Penna of California; Erma Henze of Grundy Center; Darrell Bee of Dubuque; Dallas Bee of Bloomington, MN; Deb Wendler of Pataskala, Ohio; Cousins- Doris Elmore, Philip Elmore, Angela Lynch all of Titusville, FL; and Mary Hutt of Ontario, Canada.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers- James Ray and Charles D.; and an aunt, Lela Campbell.