By Sarah Peters
news@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH,IN Elden Yohe began his own Broker/Realtor agency in Wabash, “Yohe Realty”, in 1977 and now, almost 40 years later, is ready to close the business and retire at age 96.
Yohe Realty is officially closing on July 31. For the last five months, Yohe has been working from his home while his secretary runs the office in downtown Wabash. He will continue dealing with his rentals and taking phone calls/appointments until the last day of July.
“Well age 96 was a big factor,” Yohe laughs as he explains why he’s decided to retire. “My health is good, my mind is good, I’m active. [My wife] helps me with my rentals, my office is over at the dining table now instead of the desk downtown and it’s just time to quit. Ninety-six is just it.”
Before he started Yohe Realty, a counselor told him to do what he knows and stick with it.
“He told me ‘Don’t reinvent your education. Do something you’ve always done’,” Yohe said.
At this point, Yohe had bought and sold 13 properties privately, so he went into real estate on this counselors suggestion.
The counselor had a good hunch, because in 1984 and in 1985 Yohe was named Realtor of the Year.
“It has been a very satisfying and rewarding experience,” Yohe said.
However, the constant evolution of technology made Yohe feel like it had outgrown his business as well as his technological skills.
“The technology, the computers, the legal profession kept adding to it and adding to it, and now it’s a maze,” Yohe said.
Yohe was raised on a farm in Ohio during the Great Depression and later graduated high school as salutation of his class in 1937.
He continued his education at Manchester College, later transferring to Ohio State University, graduating in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.
After college, he spent nearly four years in the Selective Service Alternative Work program, under the rising of the Church of the Brethren. Being involved in helping build the Wabash Church of the Brethren on Bond Street is one of Yohe’s most memorable experiences.
After his first career, he married Jean Hollar in 1946 and took over the home diary farm. Soon following this, he became involved in the “Heifer’s for Relief Project”, being the first ‘flying cowboy’ with this program.
He later moved his dairy herd to Indiana and bought a small grain elevator and feed mill near Marion County. After a few years, he increased the size of his business and bought bigger grain and feed equipment and called it ‘Wabash Feed and Farm Supply’. This career lasted him for the next 20 years of his life.
In 1975, he became a federal egg inspector and simultaneously studied real estate at Ball State in the evenings. Two years later, he began Yohe Realty and his third career.
Along with his career, he was involved with multiple parts of the community throughout the years.
He had three years as a member of the Wabash School Board, which allowed him to feel closer to his community and his family.
“Having had five children, I felt privileged to share in their educational experience,” Yohe said.
Later, he was appointed as a board member of the Wabash Marketplace, serving for two years as the first executive director.
“At age 80 I requested to step down,” Yohe said. “The job was bigger and greater than I felt I could develop. I am pleased to have been a part of the early plan and now see what it has become.”
Yohe then lost his first wife and the mother of his five children. He got remarried to his current wife, Jewell, in 2005.
“I have been fortunate (or lucky) two times,” Yohe said.
While Jewell and he are still currently keeping up with his rentals, he is looking forward to finishing up and retiring.
“I’m still managing my rentals, but I don’t have any plans to travel or anything like that, just relax,” Yohe said.