Gary and Nancy Yaeck

GARY ALLEN YAECK

August 11, 1938 - January 16, 2021

NANCY ISABEL YAECK

January 12, 1932 - March 26, 2021

Gary Yaeck left us on January 16, 2021 after a hard battle with the COVID 19 virus. Nancy Yaeck left us on March 26, 2021, due to a broken heart. Dad was born in Bakersfield, CA and raised in Kernville, CA. The Yaeck's also resided in Fort Tejon, CA, where Dad and his brother Mike helped their father realize his dream of owning a Trout farm. They dug all the trout ponds by hand, and then worked the business of feeding and maintaining their stock, supplying customers with rods and reels, baiting hooks, and ultimately cleaning and boxing fish...which turned him off from fishing for good. During these times, Dad went to Kern County Union High School (now Bakersfield High School). On summer breaks, he also worked on the flumes and flume tunnels at the various hydroelectric works in the Kern River Canyon system. Mom was born in Taft, CA and raised in Avenal and attended Coalinga High School. We think this upbringing partly attributed to her strong work ethic, commitment to and love of family, feistiness, and great sense of humor. If you asked, she would tell you I don't drink, I don't chew, and don't go out with guys that do!

Dad joined the Air Force in 1958 and was stationed in Germany, he served with the 6900 Th Security Wing. He absolutely loved being there. He was an avid, strong and skilled athlete. He was on several Air force sports teams which included volleyball and fast-pitch softball. He was the Coach of the Commander's volleyball team and won champions of the Rhein-Main intramural league two years in a row. He also took up Alpine Skiing and skied several locations in Austria. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1961, Dad came back home to California where he met Mom and they were married on June 21, 1963 and spent the next 57 years together. Mom came as a package deal having three young sons from her prior marriage. From the moment Dad married Mom he referred to us as his sons. Soon after our sister Patti was born, much to the delight of Mom and Dad. Dad was hired by the Kern County Fire Department in July of 1962. He worked his way to the rank of Captain. Dad completed a Fire Science AS from Bakersfield Community College as well as a variety of other Fire related certifications. In his early years with the fire department, he played in a fast-pitch Softball league. During his career, we went to the station several times for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. He retired from the fire department in March of 1994.

Over the years Mom worked at administrative, book keeping and clerical jobs for several doctors and Safeco Insurance. Her hands were a blur on an electric typewriter, over 100 words per minute. Mom continued working (voluntarily) at a local doctor's office until about 3-4 years ago. Dad bought Mom a 25-foot phone extension cord so she could multi-task, talk non-stop while cooking. She always had a lot on her mind, and someone was going to hear about it. More than once Dad came home from the Fire Station to find pot or pan burn marks on the front lawn due to a cooking fire. We thought this was hilarious. When Dad was on duty, the boys would at times cause problems for Mom. She had a particular look when she'd had enough, it truly put us in fear, and we couldn't get out the front door of the house fast enough to run in different directions down the street (predator confusion tactic). Mom loved having dogs and cats, and at one time had her favorite poodle and five Siamese cats. She liked taking the dog on trips with us, and once we took one of the cats on a trip to Kernville, once.

Growing up, it was important to Mom and Dad that we had fun. This included taking us (and Dad teaching us) snow skiing (on, wooden skis). We have 8mm movies of Mom skiing with a Beehive hairdo. We also went tent camping all over California, Hobie Cat sailing with a other firemen and their families, and body surfing and skim boarding at the beach. At one time we belonged to the local regatta. Some of our most memorable trips were to Huntington Lake, Lake Tahoe, Mission Bay, and multiple ski parks up and down the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. Dad and Mom attended every one of our sporting and academic events while we were growing up. Dad was always one of the, if not, loudest fan in the crowd. He did have to leave a few sporting events for hollering at the referees. He used to practice wrestling with Tom in the living room when Tom was on the high school team. Mom and Dad also taught all of us about the value of putting in a good day's work, doing the right things, being faithful to God and family, being a good Samaritan to all, and cherishing and loving every member of our family. Mom and Dad for many years enjoyed Country Western dancing with the Showdown Dancers at the Funny Farm (dancing only!), and their friends from that group. Mom and Dad attended First Presbyterian Church for many years and made many dear, lifelong friends. They also attended Laurel Glen Bible Church. Dad enjoyed volunteering as greeter and had many cherished friendships there. He was in the 17 Gallon club at the Houchin Blood bank. Every family member and his friends on occasions too many to count, had gotten support and help from Dad. This was one of the most important things to him and truly defined who he was to us. Dad had single-handedly taken care of our mom for at least the past decade; he truly was our Saint-on-Earth. Tradition was important to Mom and Dad, so everyone would get a birthday card, celebrate birthdays at a party, or he and Mom would call and sing happy birthday over the phone. We always had Thanksgiving at one of the family's homes with all that could attend, and Mom and Dad made the rounds to every family's house on Christmas Day. Dad had a great interest in family history, and through genealogy research was able to find and contact several family members he never knew previously. He was most excited about reconnecting with his daughter Susan Avin who ironically, found him through her own genealogy research. She immediately became family of course. Dad and Susan did get to see each other over the past several years, got to play golf together; this made all of us so very happy.

After retirement, Dad dug into his golf game, and through the years really enjoyed himself. He got into building golf clubs, which he shared with family and his buddies. He was golfing typically twice a week with the Kern County Fireman's Golf Association. All these golfers were his valued friends, and he so much enjoyed playing at courses all over our region and in Georgia with Susan and Chip.

We know Mom and Dad would want everyone to remember and cherish every day we have, to stay in contact with family and friends, and let them know you love them. They did.

Dad was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Elizabeth Yaeck, Mother Florence Kelly, sister Judy Alford, sister Diane Knowls, niece Kristen Alford. Mom was preceded in death by her parents George and Grace Hobert, brother-in-law Al (Tex) Texeira, and nephew Devlyn Texeira. Mom and Dad are survived by daughter Patti Ann Emerson and husband Brad, daughter Susan Avin and husband Chip, son Jay Blackmon and wife Cindy, son Steve Blackmon and wife Cathy, son Tom Blackmon and wife Lancene, ten grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, brother Mike Yaeck and wife Netta, sister Colleen (Hobert) Texeira, sister Lari Kelly, brothers William, Mike Kelly and many nieces and nephews. As well as Dad's large family of firemen, and a platoon of golf buddies.

Our family will always be grateful to the doctors and nurses at Mercy Hospital Southwest, Mercy Hospital Downtown, the memory care personnel at Brookdale Memory Care and the nurses and staff of Hoffman Hospice who treated our parents in our time of need keeping them comfortable, clean, pain free and dignified.

If you so choose, in Mom and Dad's name you can donate to a charity of your choice, your church, or donate at your local blood bank.

www.bakersfield.com/obits