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. After their marriage they lived and farmed east of Avoca, MN. 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, MN 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, MN, 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 of Waseca, MN, Karen (Anthony Windebank) Weavers of Rochester, MN, Mark (Janet) Isder of Avoca, MN, JoAnn (Tim) Browning of Rochester, MN, Jeanette (Brad) Lorang of Rochester, MN, Lori (Brad) Oeltjenbruns of Dayton, IA and Lisa (Doug) St. Marie of Chicago, IL; twenty-seven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; step-children; Rodney (Susan) Gerdes of Niceville, FL, and Roxanne (Jim) Kremer of Wilmont, MN; six step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; sister, Darlene Malenke of Worthington, MN, sisters-in-law Anne Isder of Alexandria, MN, and Luella Kirchner of Westbrook, MN; brother-in-law, Eldon Goedtke of Jacksonville, FL; other relatives and friends.
He is 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; Sunday, September 25th. 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.
