IN MEMORIAM: Margaret Yoder Weiner, Seabury-Western ‘87

The Rev. Margaret Emily Yoder Weiner, Seabury-Western Class of 1987, walked the path to Heaven on November 15, 2025, from Des Moines, Iowa age 85. She began life in Washington, DC, on November 14, 1940, with parents Samuel Levi Yoder and Barbara Jete Yoder. Two brothers, John and Page Yoder, rounded out the family.

Ever the academic, Margaret graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Duke University in religious study. She earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in French from Pennsylvania State University. Her Ph.D. thesis was 300 pages on symbolism in Andre Gide’s literature. She then taught humanities and French at Penn State. After study in France and Switzerland, Margaret became a teacher of transcendental meditation and joined the faculty at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. She served as Assistant Professor, then Chair of the Literature department there.

Margaret returned her focus to religion while working for Affirmative Action and the School of Religion at the University of Iowa. In 1984 she attended Seabury-Western seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and was ordained as a deacon, then priest in 1987. She began her priestly duties at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ottumwa, Iowa. Later she served at St. James Episcopal Church in Oskaloosa.

Margaret will be forever remembered for her gentle ways, prepossessing smile, and loving attention to all, especially Jerry. She is survived by her devoted husband Jerry Stanley Weiner of Des Moines and three nieces — Nancy Henry of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Cindy Miller of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Shannon King of Ormond Beach, Florida.

Posted online on November 17, 2025

Published in Des Moines Register

The service on November 20th at St. Andrews Church was shared on their YouTube channel. You can view it here:

A Celebration of the Resurrection Margaret Emily Yoder Weiner