1931 – Clayton Melvin Isder – 2016
Clayton Melvin Isder, the son of Fred and Dorothy (Jans) Isder, was born September 7, 1931 in Belfast Township, Murray County and attended Country School then Fulda Public School through the eighth grade. Clayton worked on the farm and drove truck for Harry Lindberg for a short period of time prior to serving in the Korean conflict from 1952-1954. Clayton was united in marriage to Marian Goedtke on August 23, 1955 at Immanuel (Pfingsten) Lutheran Church rural Fulda, Minnesota. After their marriage they lived and farmed east of Avoca, Minnesota. They moved to Fulda in 1990 and were married for 53 years before Marian passed away. Clayton was united in marriage to Aletha Gerdes on November 27, 2010, they continued to reside in Fulda. Clayton moved to River Bend Memory Care Home in Rochester, Minnesota in November of 2015 where he passed away on September 2, 2016 at the age of 84. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Worthington, Minnesota, where he served as a Trustee and Deacon. He also served on Lost Timber Bible Camp Board, Lime Lake Township Board, Avoca and Westbrook Farmers Elevator, Fulda Area Credit Union, and Fulda City Council. Clayton also participated in the Fellowship of Christian Farmers, and traveled to Mexico on several mission trips. He enjoyed working with wood and metal and made numerous pieces of furniture, ornaments, and wall décor. He also loved spending time with family and playing pinochle.
Survivors include his wife Aletha Gerdes Isder; seven children and their spouses: James (Sally) Isder, Waseca, MN, Karen (Anthony Windebank) Weavers, Rochester, MN, Mark (Janet) Isder, Avoca, MN, JoAnn (Tim) Browning, Rochester, MN, Jeanette (Brad) Lorang, Rochester, MN, Lori (Brad) Oeltjenbruns, Dayton, IA and Lisa (Doug) St. Marie, Chicago, IL; twenty-seven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; step-children; Rodney (Susan) Gerdes, Niceville, FL, and Roxanne (Jim) Kremer, Wilmont, MN; six step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; sister Darlene Malenke, Worthington, MN; sisters-in-law: Anne Isder, Alexandria, MN and Luella Kirchner, Westbrook, MN; brother-in-law Eldon Goedtke, Jacksonville, FL; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Marian; his brothers; Rimer Isder and George Isder; brothers-in-law Ralph Malenke, Vernon Behr, Duane Kirchner and George Buresch; sisters-in-law: Lydia Isder, Florence Isder, Lillian Buresch, Evelyn Behr and Bette Goedtke, and son-in-law Tom Weavers.
Memorial services will be held at Immanuel (Pfingsten) Lutheran Church on Sunday, September 25, 2016. Brief Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. Visitation and fellowship 1:30-3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to; Hospice of Murray County, Mayo Hospice – Rochester, MN, and Fellowship of Christian Farmers.
