1922
Edward
2016
Edward "Ed" Yaktine
March 8, 1922 — December 9, 2016
Edward Darrel Yaktine
March 8th,1922 – December 9th, 2016
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS – Edward (Ed) Darrel Yaktine, 94 passed away on Friday, December 9th, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family.
Ed was born March 8, 1922 in Dakar, Africa to Michael and Iesha Yaktine of St. Joseph, Missouri. Ed had two sisters, Norma Doolan (deceased) of St. Joseph, Missouri and Katherine Reiger of Raytown, Missouri.
Ed grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri and enjoyed a close relationship with his mom, dad, sister’s, aunts, uncles and great grandmother. In his early years, he had fond memories of the St. Joseph City Market where his parents sold produce while he played. He loved baseball and always talked about his favorite place to play with his friends which they called the “Toilet Bowl”. He was mechanically minded and in his teens worked on cars for enjoyment.
Ed graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1940. He was an accomplished welder and worked at various business establishments in and around the St. Joseph area before beginning college that same year. When the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, Ed decided to put college on hold and help his country of which he was so very proud. He signed up for the Army on December 30, 1941 and was immediately deployed to New Guinea in January of 1942.
Ed initially enlisted as a B-24 Aerial Gunner, but his original enlistment papers were misfiled and he was temporarily assigned to be a typist. After the Army’s review of his civilian occupation as a welder and his high mechanical aptitude, Ed was re-assigned to be an Airplane Engine Mechanic and Maintenance Technician for B-24 Bombers.
For the duration of his active duty Ed worked on B-24 Bombers and served his country proudly. He was awarded seven (7) Bronze Stars for his work in the East Indies, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Southern Philippines, Papuan, North Solomons and Central Pacific Campaigns in 1943 and 1945. He also received the Good Conduct Medal in 1945.
In July of 1945 Ed’s commanding officer told him his work was done and he was going home. He was immediately assigned to one of the ships back to the United States and within three weeks he was back home in St. Joseph, Missouri where he had left 4 years before.
When Ed returned home from the war, he went back to college to finish his education at the University of Kansas (KU) while utilizing the GI bill to cover his education expenses. To save money Ed lived in St. Joseph with his parents and drove to Lawrence the days he had classes and then worked at part time jobs in St. Joseph to help with his and the families expenses.
Ed graduated from KU in 1949 with a Bachelor in Liberal Arts and Sciences and in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
On February 10th, 1951 Ed married Elsie May Price of Cosby, Missouri. Ed met Elsie at the local “Frog Hop” and asked her to go on a date. Ed had a drink or two that evening and she told him “Yes” but not if he was drinking. Apparently he did not drink on their date and three months later he asked her what type of refrigerator she wanted. That was Ed’s marriage proposal.
In the spring of 1951 Ed received a teaching position at De Soto High School to teach American Government and American History. He now was married, had a job, and the refrigerator. Their first child was born, Darrel Lynn Yaktine on May 22nd, 1952. It was now time to buy a new home and watch their family grow and they did just that. They purchased their first and only house in 1954. On December 11th, 1957 their second child was born, Janette Dionne Yaktine.
Ed loved teaching school and loved the students. His sincerity for his job was genuine and all his students knew it. He was a fair teacher and wanted his students to learn. At the beginning of each class he would start with a joke and then move on to the material. His philosophy was that if a student would come to his class every day they had to learn something and the worst grade you could ever get would be a (D-). The only way you could get an “F” was not come to class.
Ed retired in 1987 after 36 years of teaching in the same school district. The longevity of his employment at one place was so rare that he was considered a living legacy. When he retired, there were three teachers on the staff that were his former students. They called him their “Great Grand Teacher” and what a compliment that was.
Immediately following his retirement his daughter Janette decided that he and his wife Elise needed a hobby. She thought with her mother’s attention to fine detail and her father’s welding ability, making stained glass might be the perfect hobby. To the family’s surprise Ed and Elsie embraced the new endeavor and over the next 30 years produced incredibly beautiful stained glass works of art. Ed’s specialties were Kansas Jayhawks in all shapes and sizes including previous versions of the KU mascot of early years and Elise’s were angels and glass Christmas wreaths of all designs and colors. During these years, Ed and Elsie attended many arts and crafts shows where they sold their stained glass. Elsie passed away on January 17th, 2006. They were married 55 years. Ed continued to produce stained glass pieces for close friends and family. He loved giving them away and most people would take pictures of them where they put them in their home or office to show him where his work was displayed. His last stained glass project was five specially designed gold plated angels that he made for his grandchildren for Christmas. Ed completed the angels 8 weeks before he passed away. At Ed’s request, his son and daughter will be giving the angels to the grandchildren for Christmas as planned.
Some of Ed’s favorite pastimes were watching KU basketball and NBA games where the KU players advanced to. He enjoyed puttering around the garage and with his cars. Spending time with his family was his favorite pastime of all.
Ed is one of those “Once in a Lifetime” people and those who met him knew he was special. People would say he was such an amazing man they wish they were part of his family.
Ed is survived by his son, Darrel Lynn Yaktine and his wife Patricia Yaktine of Overland Park, Kansas. His Daughter Janette Dionne Dickinson and her husband Michael Dickinson of Cape Coral, Florida. Ed had five grandchildren, Kristin Olson Cook and her husband Dillon, Matt Olson and his wife Amber Jo, Nicholas MacDonald and his wife Elizabeth, Jennifer Yaktine Keil and her husband Zachary, Krista Yaktine and her wife Lori. He is survived by six Great Grandchildren Kaylee Cook, Carter Cook, Maverick Foster, Sophia MacDonald, Morton Keil, and Winston Keil. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66210. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 14, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to Saint Luke’s Hospice or Down Syndrome Guild of Kansas City.
March 8th,1922 – December 9th, 2016
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS – Edward (Ed) Darrel Yaktine, 94 passed away on Friday, December 9th, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family.
Ed was born March 8, 1922 in Dakar, Africa to Michael and Iesha Yaktine of St. Joseph, Missouri. Ed had two sisters, Norma Doolan (deceased) of St. Joseph, Missouri and Katherine Reiger of Raytown, Missouri.
Ed grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri and enjoyed a close relationship with his mom, dad, sister’s, aunts, uncles and great grandmother. In his early years, he had fond memories of the St. Joseph City Market where his parents sold produce while he played. He loved baseball and always talked about his favorite place to play with his friends which they called the “Toilet Bowl”. He was mechanically minded and in his teens worked on cars for enjoyment.
Ed graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1940. He was an accomplished welder and worked at various business establishments in and around the St. Joseph area before beginning college that same year. When the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, Ed decided to put college on hold and help his country of which he was so very proud. He signed up for the Army on December 30, 1941 and was immediately deployed to New Guinea in January of 1942.
Ed initially enlisted as a B-24 Aerial Gunner, but his original enlistment papers were misfiled and he was temporarily assigned to be a typist. After the Army’s review of his civilian occupation as a welder and his high mechanical aptitude, Ed was re-assigned to be an Airplane Engine Mechanic and Maintenance Technician for B-24 Bombers.
For the duration of his active duty Ed worked on B-24 Bombers and served his country proudly. He was awarded seven (7) Bronze Stars for his work in the East Indies, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Southern Philippines, Papuan, North Solomons and Central Pacific Campaigns in 1943 and 1945. He also received the Good Conduct Medal in 1945.
In July of 1945 Ed’s commanding officer told him his work was done and he was going home. He was immediately assigned to one of the ships back to the United States and within three weeks he was back home in St. Joseph, Missouri where he had left 4 years before.
When Ed returned home from the war, he went back to college to finish his education at the University of Kansas (KU) while utilizing the GI bill to cover his education expenses. To save money Ed lived in St. Joseph with his parents and drove to Lawrence the days he had classes and then worked at part time jobs in St. Joseph to help with his and the families expenses.
Ed graduated from KU in 1949 with a Bachelor in Liberal Arts and Sciences and in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
On February 10th, 1951 Ed married Elsie May Price of Cosby, Missouri. Ed met Elsie at the local “Frog Hop” and asked her to go on a date. Ed had a drink or two that evening and she told him “Yes” but not if he was drinking. Apparently he did not drink on their date and three months later he asked her what type of refrigerator she wanted. That was Ed’s marriage proposal.
In the spring of 1951 Ed received a teaching position at De Soto High School to teach American Government and American History. He now was married, had a job, and the refrigerator. Their first child was born, Darrel Lynn Yaktine on May 22nd, 1952. It was now time to buy a new home and watch their family grow and they did just that. They purchased their first and only house in 1954. On December 11th, 1957 their second child was born, Janette Dionne Yaktine.
Ed loved teaching school and loved the students. His sincerity for his job was genuine and all his students knew it. He was a fair teacher and wanted his students to learn. At the beginning of each class he would start with a joke and then move on to the material. His philosophy was that if a student would come to his class every day they had to learn something and the worst grade you could ever get would be a (D-). The only way you could get an “F” was not come to class.
Ed retired in 1987 after 36 years of teaching in the same school district. The longevity of his employment at one place was so rare that he was considered a living legacy. When he retired, there were three teachers on the staff that were his former students. They called him their “Great Grand Teacher” and what a compliment that was.
Immediately following his retirement his daughter Janette decided that he and his wife Elise needed a hobby. She thought with her mother’s attention to fine detail and her father’s welding ability, making stained glass might be the perfect hobby. To the family’s surprise Ed and Elsie embraced the new endeavor and over the next 30 years produced incredibly beautiful stained glass works of art. Ed’s specialties were Kansas Jayhawks in all shapes and sizes including previous versions of the KU mascot of early years and Elise’s were angels and glass Christmas wreaths of all designs and colors. During these years, Ed and Elsie attended many arts and crafts shows where they sold their stained glass. Elsie passed away on January 17th, 2006. They were married 55 years. Ed continued to produce stained glass pieces for close friends and family. He loved giving them away and most people would take pictures of them where they put them in their home or office to show him where his work was displayed. His last stained glass project was five specially designed gold plated angels that he made for his grandchildren for Christmas. Ed completed the angels 8 weeks before he passed away. At Ed’s request, his son and daughter will be giving the angels to the grandchildren for Christmas as planned.
Some of Ed’s favorite pastimes were watching KU basketball and NBA games where the KU players advanced to. He enjoyed puttering around the garage and with his cars. Spending time with his family was his favorite pastime of all.
Ed is one of those “Once in a Lifetime” people and those who met him knew he was special. People would say he was such an amazing man they wish they were part of his family.
Ed is survived by his son, Darrel Lynn Yaktine and his wife Patricia Yaktine of Overland Park, Kansas. His Daughter Janette Dionne Dickinson and her husband Michael Dickinson of Cape Coral, Florida. Ed had five grandchildren, Kristin Olson Cook and her husband Dillon, Matt Olson and his wife Amber Jo, Nicholas MacDonald and his wife Elizabeth, Jennifer Yaktine Keil and her husband Zachary, Krista Yaktine and her wife Lori. He is survived by six Great Grandchildren Kaylee Cook, Carter Cook, Maverick Foster, Sophia MacDonald, Morton Keil, and Winston Keil. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66210. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 14, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to Saint Luke’s Hospice or Down Syndrome Guild of Kansas City.
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