Rick Yerke

Rick Yerke, 71, of Salina, Kansas, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026, in his hometown of Salina. He was born on July 31, 1954, in Salina, Kansas, to Clara and Robert Yerke.

Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Clara Yerke; his father, Robert Yerke; and his brother, Steve Yerke.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Debbie Yerke of Salina; his daughter, Shannon Yerke of Salina; and his cherished grandchildren, Jailynn Rowe and Leon Rowe (Alyssa Patterson), who were truly the pride and joy of his life. He is also survived by his sister, Deb Wilson of Colorado; his brother, Mike Yerke and wife Kara of Indiana; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Rick dedicated much of his life to hard work in the grain and metal industries. He worked at Grain Belt for 17 years before continuing his career at Dub Johnson for 10 years. After the company closed, he went on to work at Salina Steel, where he remained for 20 years until his retirement. Over the decades, Rick built not only a career but a reputation for dedication, reliability, and pride in his work.

Outside of work, Rick had a larger-than-life passion for dinosaurs - a fascination that never faded and brought him endless enjoyment. He loved spending time going to garage sales and auctions, always on the hunt for a good find or hidden treasure. Above all else, Rick treasured his family. His grandchildren brought him immeasurable happiness, and he rarely missed an opportunity to share stories about them.

There will be no formal services at this time. A celebration of Rick's life will be held at a later date, with details to be shared with family and friends. Memorials may be made in Rick's honor to the American Heart Association or Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes.

Rick will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his deep love for his family, his unique interests, and the many memories he created with those who knew him. He will be deeply missed and forever loved.