John William "Johnny" Yaklich II

John William Yaklich II was born on November 14, 1924, in Crested Butte, Colorado to John & Mary (Nemanic) Yaklich. When he was nine years old, the family packed up and moved to Marysville, California, after his father lost a leg in a coal mine accident. Hard times called for courage and grit, qualities Johnny carried all his life. He and his younger brother, Bill, grew up learning to box from their Uncle Joe, turning hardship into strength and laughter.

At Marysville High School, Johnny stood out not just for his athleticism, but for his spirit. He played both basketball and baseball, worked a paper route after school, and spent his summers at the National Ice Company. In 1942, he graduated and soon after, Johnny joined the United States Marine Corps and trained as an aircraft mechanic at Aviation School in Memphis, Tennessee. He worked on the SBD Dauntless dive bombers. While serving, he also boxed, representing the Marines in the ring with the same heart he brought to every challenge in life.

When the war ended, Johnny came home and attended Yuba College, studying forestry and playing baseball under coach Glen Potter. But life had other plans and a heart problem led him in a new direction - he fell in love with Grace Davis. The two married in 1946, and began a partnership that would shape a lifetime.

Gifted 22 acres along the Yuba River, Johnny became a peach farmer, and a remarkable one. He was known as the number-one grower for quality in the district. Together, Johnny and Grace built a home (literally, a block house that still stands today) and raised three children: John, Gayle, and Jill.

Beyond the farm, Johnny poured his time and heart into his community. He served as a trustee on the Cordua Elementary School Board, on the Nazarene Church Board in Hallwood, the Production Credit Association, and the Cling Peach Advisory Board. He represented District 4 as a Peach Association delegate and chaired the Yuba County Flood Control Board.

But it was his work with young people that left perhaps the greatest legacy. For more than twenty years, Johnny led the Hallwood 4-H Club, teaching not just agricultural skills but pride, responsibility, and community spirit. As Sports Director for the Hallwood Nazarene Church, he coached countless children in basketball: running drills, teaching teamwork, and showing that being a good sport mattered more than the score. In the evenings, he coached up to thirty men on the court, welcoming anyone who wanted to play.

Johnny lived by quiet example. He never drank or smoked, choosing instead to set a standard of integrity for the young people who looked up to him.

He was generous with his harvest, often sharing peaches with neighbors, friends, and family.

He was also an avid hunter, making annual trips in pursuit of deer and elk, cherishing those days spent in the company of family and good friends. And for decades, Johnny hosted a monthly potluck at his home, an open table filled with food, laughter, music, prayer, and the kind of community that nourishes the soul.

After Grace passed away in 2006, Johnny found love again with Shirley Lolmaugh, a long-time family friend. Together they continued the traditions of faith, generosity, and fellowship that defined his life.

More than anything, Johnny loved his family. As a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he was steady, playful, and endlessly proud. He taught his grandchildren about the ranch - how to respect the land, how to work hard, and how to ride side by side in the tractor. Johnny Yaklich will be remembered as a farmer, patriot, coach, and community leader...but even more so, as a man of laughter, kindness, and deep faith. His eyes always sparkled, his laugh always came easy, and his ice cream, homemade and legendary, was the kind of thing that could turn strangers into friends.

He leaves behind his children John Yaklich, Gayle Callender, and Jill Boom; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a lifetime of people who were lucky enough to be invited to his table.

Services honoring Johnny's life begin at 1pm on Saturday, November 15th, 2025 Hallwood Community Church of the Nazarene

In lieu of flowers, Johnny's memory can be honored by contributing to the Hallwood Community Church of the Nazarene-Youth fund. 2825 CA-20, Marysville, CA 95901