Samuel G. Yoder, 83, of Shoemakersville, passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 in the Laurel Center, Tilden Twp. He was the husband of Phyllis P. (Ryan) Yoder. They were married on January 26, 1957 and celebrated fifty-eight years of marriage.
Born in Shoemakersville, he was the son of the late Irwin H. and Thelma R. (Unger) Yoder. He was a 1949 graduate of Perry High School and a 1953 graduate of F & M College, Lancaster. While in college, Sam was the captain of the 1952 men's soccer NCAA national champion team. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. In 2002 he was inducted into the F & M Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Hamburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Sam was a dairy farmer on his farm Pinesedge Farm in Ontelaunee Twp. He and his father also owned and operated Yoder's Meat Market, Shoemakersville.
Sam showed championship cattle at many local and national shows. He was on the Board of Directors of the Kutztown Fair and Livestock Superintendent. Sam was a founding member and member of the board of directors for the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg. Through the show, he was honored by winning the Pioneer Award in 2004 and the Obie Snyder Award in 2013. At the show, the award given to the Premier National Show Supreme Jr. Champion, is given in honor of Samuel G. Yoder. Sam has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Dairy Hall of Fame. He is a member, past president (1965) and member of the board of directors of the American Milking Shorthorn Society. Sam was a member of the Hamburg School Board for twenty-four years; and a member of Vaux Masonic Lodge # 406 F. & A.M, Hamburg. He is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. Sam is a member of St. Mary R.C. Church, Tilden Twp.
Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons: Samuel E., husband of Jill (Irwin) Yoder, Shoemakersville; and Frederick R., husband of Beverly (Moore) Yoder, Ontelaunee Twp.; two daughters: Nedra Y. (Yoder), wife of Richard Koller, Shoemakersville; and Wendy Z. Yoder, wife of Shirley Yoder, Milton, Vermont; eleven grandchildren: Keil, Kellen, Kendall, Joell, Stephanie, Alyssa, Jenna, Dylan, Ryan, Levi, and Kyen; and five great-grandchildren. Sam was predeceased by a grandson Eric Koller, who died in 2008.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 10:30 am from St. Mary R.C. Church, 94 Walnut Road, Hamburg. A visitation with the family will be held at the church Saturday 9:30 to 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be sent to Schuylkill Valley Community Library, 1310 Washington Road, Leesport, PA 19533. Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., Hamburg is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit. www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Samuel G. Yoder, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.