Wendell E. Yager, 80 years old of Ionia was called by God to His heavenly home to forever be with his Lord and Savior on March 28th. He was born on May 12th, 1936 on the family farm in Lake Odessa to Theo and Elaine Yager. He went to Lake Odessa High School where he graduated in 1954. He went into the Airforce in December 1954 and was a crew chief on the F-89. He met and married Bonnie Lou Lance on June 16th 1957. He and Bonnie had a very happy marriage with God at the center of it. They had 3 children, Scott W. Yager (Jackie), Glenda Jean Gorby (David) and Darla Dee Minard (Scott). Wendell is survived by all of his children and spouses; 11 grandchildren, Joshua Rinckey (Casey), Tracy Pick (Andrew), Alicia Wendt (Brent), Katie Westover (Andrew), Scott Minard II (Ashley), Alexis Thacker (David), Casie Gerstein (Noah), Breann Burns (Bill), Leann Morgan (Shawn), Becky Jones (Bill), Jessica Wyman (Jonathon), his wife of almost 60 years and twenty-two great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, Theo and Elaine Yager of Lake Odessa; a brother Duane (Buck) Yager; 2 sisters- in-laws, Shirley Yager and Kay Yager; in-laws, Frank and Maxine Lance; brother-in-law, Roger Lance and several good buddies. After the Airforce, Wendell worked at several jobs until he went to work at the Michigan Reformatory where he retired from. He established his own radiator shop business at his home. He was saved as a boy of 9 at Sebewa Baptist Church in Lake Odessa. He and Bonnie were members for 55 years at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Ionia, where he served as deacon for 50 years. He was happiest when helping someone. Surely a man of God walked among us. He developed Alzheimer's disease in the 90's which devastated his family and with God's help they kept him home with the help of hospice. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday, March 31, at Lincoln Ave. Baptist Church with Pastor David Iseminger II along with his father Pastor David Iseminger officiating. Interment Tuttle Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Lake Funeral Home in Ionia. Memorial contributions may be made to Lincoln Ave. Baptist Church or Hospice of Ionia. Online condolences may be made at www.lakefunealhomes.com