Joseph Earl Yonk

May you never die, and I live forever!

Joseph Earl Yonk - May 28, 1920 - August 4, 2013

Our beloved Father, surrounded by his loving family. very peaceably passed away, almost living up to this saying that he said to friends and family. He has the honor of being the oldest "YONK”, at 93, that was in his lineage, setting the bar high for the rest of his family. Joseph or Earl as most family and friends called him, was a Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, and Great-Great grandfather. Earl was born in Moulton, Idaho, near Rock City, Idaho. Dad always said only rocks and critters live there. His parents, Garland William, and Cynthia Parker (Cooper) couldn't make a living from this hard land to farm, so they returned to their beloved Petersboro farm when Earl was 2 years old.
Earl was raised in Petersboro on the farm his parents loved so much, but he would always rather fix the farm machinery than use it. He had loving memories with his older brother Merlin Henry, sister Dorothy Marie (Jones), and little baby sister Betty Lou Zilles.
Dad loved music and especially dancing almost any dance in his day. He even played the saxophone for a
few years, although; some of us did complain! When he was a toddler, he would dance for all his family and neighbors, sometimes giving him a reward of a nickel. He was the envy of his peers with his dancing, sometimes clearing the floor to watch him dance. Earl's last dance was with some of the able bodied women at the Christmas party at Willamsburg, where he has lived for the past two years. He loved fishing, especially teaching his grandchildren how to fish. They all have cherished memories of fishing with grandpa Yonk, and the very big fish they caught.
He went to South Cache High in Hyrum by train from Petersboro in those days. He was called to serve in the Army in 1945, near the end of World War II. He said he felt it an honor to serve our great country. After the war ended, he decided to go to USU to learn a trade as a machinist. He loved and mastered being a machinist as a career and after retiring it was a wonderful hobby. At 90 years old and legally blind he would be in his workshop at home fixing something or modifying it with his mill and lathe. He invented a mower sharpener in his 80's, loving to sharpen his family and friends mowers. His yard was a great joy to him, keeping a beautiful yard and would do battle against any weed or insect invading his grass and shrubs.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Maurine (Muir) in September of 1989. They were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple on October 11, 1975. His brother Merlin Henry, sister Dorothy Marie (Jones), and one granddaughter.
Earl is survived by his younger sister Betty Lou (Zilles). His five children, son Larry Earl (Dana) Yonk,
daughter De'ann (Clift) Knox, daughter Marilynn (Kenneth) Fisher, daughter Joni (Nephi) DeBruin, and son Joseph Brenton (Kayleen) Yonk, 23 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to express our gratitude to his loving neighbors Ken and Betty Lowry, they drove him to church every Sunday when he no longer could drive, and were good friends over 36 years. A special love and thanks to our Aunt Betty Lou Zilles who endured and had a great sense of humor with Earl's pranks and teasing all his life because he really loved her. Finally our appreciation and thanks for the complete staff at Willamsburg for making our Father comfortable, cared for and all the fun parties they had his last 2 years of his life, and to the Allen-Hall Mortuary for their caring services.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 in the Mendon Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street in Logan and prior to the services on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the mortuary. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net