James John Yanko

1951-2023

On the afternoon of July 27, 2023, Jim Yanko of Forsyth, Mo., after courageously battling cancer, ascended to the Lord with his cherished best friend & wife by his side. Although our hearts are broken, we are joyful that he is now free of suffering and celebrating in Heaven with his father Frank and mother Anna (Leonhard) Yanko and many dear relatives and loved ones.

There will be a Celebration of Life at Zondlo’s Ballroom in Rib Lake, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at 2 p.m. There will be a Mass in Jim’s name at Good Shepherd Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, followed by a private interment at the Rib Lake Lakeview Cemetery. Jim will have a graveside memorial bench in his honor.

Born Jan. 31, 1951, in Marshfield, the sixth of twelve children, is where Jim began a lifetime filled with love, laughter, a keen wit and a generous steady spirit. Jim graduated from Rib Lake High School. He excelled at basketball and baseball. His siblings were all jealous of Jim saying that he never needed to study. Learning just came natural to him all his life. Jim was a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Rib Lake. He tried his hand at road construction and then became a plumber under his uncle Gene’s tutelage in Rib Lake. Jim and wife Karen moved to Lake Mills, in the mid 80’s and raised their three daughters Carrie, Mia and Sara together. He coached girls’ softball for many years to support his girls and his love of baseball. Jim was very proud of each girls’ individual successes in life. Jim and Karen divorced in 1998.

Jim continued his career as a Master Plumber and Project Manager for various plumbing and mechanical contracting organizations in Wisconsin. At one of those jobs in 2003 he met his soulmate Joyce (Ryan). Not wanting to rush into marriage they wed Sept. 20, 2013, after 10 years together. He retired in February 2017 from Harwood Engineering Consultants in Milwaukee, as a Plumbing Designer and Senior Project Manager. Jim and Joyce then moved from Lake Mills, to Forsyth, Mo., and together relished remodeling every inch of their ‘diamond in the rough’ in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

Jim enjoyed following the Packers, Brewers, and all things Wisconsin Badgers (most of the time). Hunting season at the cabin he and brother Joe owned was his favorite outing of the year. He bowled in a league and played baseball for many years in Rib Lake and Lake Mills. He most loved cheering on and critiquing his grandchildren in all their endeavors with sports and life.

Jim has left everyone who knew him with a smile from his dry wit and some lesson they learned just by watching him live within their space, even if only for a short while.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife, Joyce; his daughters, Carrie Yanko, Milwaukee, Mia (Erich) Wollin, Johnson Creek, and Sara (Kevin) Decker, San Antonio, Texas; and his treasured grandchildren, Taylor, Emily, Tyler, Lydia, Evelyn, and Quinn; step-children Mike (Sheena) Barber, Dexter, Mo., Erik (Najwa) Oberhofer, West Allis, Jessie Oberhofer (Steve), Milwaukee; step-grandchildren, Preston, Zachary, Jaeira, Ava and Jax; siblings, Johanne (Wayne) Bowling, Sierra Vista, Ariz., Mary (John) Mullen, Milwaukee, Fran (Dave) Woyak, Hancock, Joe (Luanne) Yanko, Rib Lake, Janice (Frank) Waszkiewicz, Queen Creek, Ariz., Myrna (Don) Schwartz, Allenton, Terri Yanko, Florence, Ariz., Dorathy (Gary) Nelson, Rib Lake, Sue (Chris) Peterson, Coloma, Becky (Jim) Rindt, Westboro, Elaine (Wally) Emmerich, Westboro; and half-sister, Donna (Scott) Wojcik, Prentice. And a great many relatives and friends too numerous to mention here.

In lieu of flowers please donate in Jim’s name to DAV or Tunnels to Towers.

Paid Obituary 140938