David Yokiel, 1933-2018

Published 1:00 am Friday, February 2, 2018

The memorial service for David R. Yokiel of Albert Lea will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Kurt Farrell will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior. Interment will be at St. Theodore Cemetery with a light lunch following.

David Yokiel

David died Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, after a brief stay at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

He was born Nov. 17, 1933, in St. Paul, the son of Leo and Hazel Yokiel. He lived most of his life in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School. He married Shirley M. Hendrickson on Sept. 20, 1954.They were blessed with two children, Rick and Lori.

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He loved to work. As a child and young man, he worked for his father’s beer distributorship, then Bell Telephone Co., and most of his adult life for Drug Supply Inc. Retirement didn’t agree with him, so he worked as a courier for Mayo Clinic until health issues conflicted.

David adored his family. His kindness, generosity, humility and forgiving nature defined him. He was a servant of the church and found peace in nature. He loved everything outdoors! He embraced life and was always on the go. Nearly two years of dialysis he viewed as a simple inconvenience. He lived in the home he and Shirley built until his passing.

He is survived by his son, Rick (Cindy Yokiel); brother, Leo Jr. (Judith); grandchildren Emily (Nik) Lewandowski, Amanda (Travis) Burton, Molly (Joe) Stangby, Shannon Flanagan, Bobbi (Nick) Miller and Brad (Andrea) Brua; and eight great-grandchildren.

Go in peace and go mow the grass.

Thanks to a very special friend, Lyndon, and the staff at the dialysis center.