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 City of Rocks, 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 80s, loving to sharpen his family and friends' mowers. His yard was a
great joy to him. He kept 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 Oct. 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 three 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 are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug, 7, in the Mendon Cemetery. A viewing will
be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan and prior to the
services from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.allenmortuaries.net.
Published in Logan Herald Journal from August 6 to August 7, 2013