Richard Yerkes

RICHARD YERKES

Walker

Richard Yerkes, 85, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at the Vinton Lutheran Home in Vinton following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 25, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St. in Vinton. Interment will be held at the Urbana Memorial Cemetery with graveside military rites conducted by Walter J. Meyocks American Legion Post 264 of Urbana and Navy Military Funeral Honors. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established.

Richard was born Dec. 19, 1933, in Vinton to John and Geraldine (Johnson) Yerkes. During the Korean conflict, he served his nation in the U.S. Navy and was discharged from the Navy Reserve.

Richard was a farmer in the Walker area prior to his retirement, and he enjoyed membership in the Iowa Farm Bureau. He was a Polk Township trustee for many years. He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, selling sweetcorn and gathering and cleaning black walnuts. Richard was a good steward of the land and nature.

He is survived by his wife, Lois of Walker; his children, Deborah (Leon Ember) Yerkes of Columbia, S.C., David (Jeanie Bickford) Yerkes of Walker, Deanna (Bill) Freeman of Cedar Rapids and Darcy (Kevin) Duncalf of Long Grove; grandchildren, Jessica Neuendorf of LaPorte City, Jason (Wendy Schilb) Freeman of Cedar Rapids, Jamie Freeman of Cedar Rapids, Cole Duncalf of Long Grove, Jill (Carl) Eisenzimmer of Wilmington, N.C., and Jenna (Cory Tunneson) Duncalf of New York, N.Y.; eight great-grandchildren; and his brother, Gale Yerkes of Waterloo.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Rex, Melvin and Spencer Yerkes; and his sister, Beth Lonergan.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.