Henry "Gene" Yoeckel

Henry Eugene Yoeckel, age 87, of Lanark, IL, passed away June 12, 2024, at Allure Nursing Home of Mt. Carroll, IL. His funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., on Monday, June 17, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Lanark. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by a worship service. Burial will follow at Lanark Cemetery.

Like his siblings before him, Gene was born at home on the farm, March 23, 1937, in Fairhaven Township, the son of Adam and Irene (Remrey) Yoeckel, Sr. In his early years, his family nicknamed him “Babe”, and it wasn’t until he began school, that he realized he had another name. He attended Washington Country School North of Savanna, other country schools, and eventually Sterling Junior-Senior High School. Gene did leave high school before graduating in order to earn an income, but was proud that in later years he earned his general education degree attending classes held at Lanark High School. On May 8, 1960, Gene married Sharon Folk, at Evangelical United Brethren Church in Brookeville, IL.

Gene worked at Lawrence Brothers in Sterling and International Harvester in Rock Falls in his early twenties before becoming a farmer. With Sharon, Tom, and Mike on the way, they moved to rural Lanark where Gene began working with Bob Dampman, then Rex Lower, and finally with Joe and Dean Lower Farms. Those years working on the farm were some of Gene’s most favorite and memorable employment years. Later, while working at Warner’s Farm Equipment, he attended Combine School. Eventually, he would go on to work at Woods where he worked as a welder, first at the Mt. Carroll, IL facility, then at the Oregon, IL facility retiring in 2002.

Gene, along with Sharon and their sons, was a proud member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served on the property committee, maintaining the church grounds as if it was his own. At Trinity Lutheran, he also served on the church council, attended Synod Assembly, and along with Earl Kaufman and Pat Mc Cue, served faithfully as usher.

Gene and Sharon took pride in their home, and remodeled much of it together. Unfortunately, there was a fire on Memorial Day Weekend 2023, which led to 8 months living elsewhere while renovations. They loved their time spent together camping or building upon their home and family. Gene loved working in his shop at home. Many of those hours in the shop were spent with his son, Mike, who shared his father’s interest in working with tools and the farming years.

Meanwhile, Angela Hart was growing up under her Grandma Pearl’s guidance when Gene’s family moved into her neighborhood in Sharon’s hometown of Lanark. It didn’t take long for her to love Gene’s family and for his family to care for and love her.

As their eldest son, Tom, grew into adulthood, Gene and Sharon, along with family and friends looked forward to his theater performances at Highland Community College and then Millikin University in Decator.

Gene also really enjoyed the Yoeckel Family Reunions which he had been helping to plan since 1960, attending his last one in September 2023.

Gene is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sharon; sons, Thomas (Nancy) Yoeckel, of Loves Park, IL and Michael Yoeckel (Carol Newcomer), of Shannon, IL; chosen daughter, Angela (Jay) Marshall, of Austin, Texas; nine grandchildren, Aaron (Miranda) Keip, Adam (Melissa) Keip, Andrew (Sharlett) Keip, A.J. Yoeckel-Diller, Brandon Yoeckel, Sabrina Yoeckel, Christine Marshall, Cameron Marshall, and Courtney Marshall; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren. Siblings: Myron “Bud” Yoeckel, Arlene (Norris) Crozier, Myrna Foley, and Edward Yoeckel; and many nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews and 3 great-great-great nephews.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Adam, Sr. and Irene; grandson, Clemens Yoeckel; Siblings/Siblings-in-law Marjorie Stewart, Nielsen (Gene, Duane), Effie Drain (Bruce), Alice (Louis) Basil, and Adam Yoeckel, Jr.(Helen); Brother-in-law, Jim Foley, sisters-in-laws, Anna Yoeckel, and Ella Yoeckel.