Cover photo for Terry Yake's Obituary
Terry Yake Profile Photo
1942 Terry 2013

Terry Yake

February 14, 1942 — October 24, 2013

Terry J. Yake, 71, Overland Park, KS, passed away on October 24, 2013, after a seven and a half year contest with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer and a more recent battle with a different, more aggressive type of cancer. Terry was born February, 14, 1942, in Huntington County, IN, the middle child of Herbert J. and Helen J. Yake. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Charlotte Vollmar. He is survived by one sister, Roxie J. Moore of Alcoa, TN; two brothers, Ronald F. Yake, MD, of Fontana, WI, and Wayne L. Yake of Olathe, KS; his wife of 47 years, Margaret (Maggie) Jane Surface Yake of Overland Park, KS; their daughter, Leslie Ann Yake Osborne of Lafayette, CO; and seventeen nieces and nephews.

Terry graduated from Huntington Township HS. He received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Dayton. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Purdue, a member of Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu scholastic honoraries, and in 1992 received Purdue's Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineering Award, as well as their Distinguished Engineering Alumni designation. He attained the rank of Major in the USAFR.

Terry's career was in telecommunications, beginning in 1970 with Ohio Bell Telephone Co., and followed by 19 years with Sprint Corporation during the construction of the first nationwide fiber optic cable and voice/data network. He retired in 2000 as Vice-President of Applied Technology after holding several officer level positions in Network engineering, construction, design, and systems development. He was a past chairman of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. Since contracting his rare cancer, he focused on supporting other cancer patients and volunteering at the R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation Hotline (blochcancer.org).

A homebuilt aircraft enthusiast, Terry built and flew his Long-EZ composite airplane for many years, developing family-like relationships with a very dear group of friends (the "airplane people") along the way.

Terry's cremated remains will be buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Andrews, IN.

An informal celebration of life will be held for Terry on Sunday, December 1, from 1:30 to 4:30 at Johnny's Tavern, 6765 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS 66209. In lieu of flowers, a gift to the University of Iowa Foundation, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center for Neuroendocrine Tumor Research ( https://www.uifoundation.org ) or Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, 10100 W. 87th St., Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66212 ,would be appreciated.

The family wishes to thank KC Hospice for their outstanding care and support, especially Ricci, Debra, Jean, and Kathy.

Terry was a wonderful husband, father, brother, and friend, and will be dearly missed.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Terry Yake, please visit our flower store.

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