John Yearsley

1945 - 2023

URBANA - John Yearsley, 78, of Urbana passed away Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at North Florida Veterans Health System, Gainesville, Fla.

He was born in Urbana on Feb. 7, 1945, the son of Emmett and Jean (Phillips) Yearsley. He married Cheryl Woolls DeLap on July 11, 2014.

Surviving are his wife, Cheryl; daughters, Jennifer (Doug) Bennett of Columbus, Ohio, and Nikki (Brian) Mercer of Mahomet; grandchildren, Ava, Braxton, Charlotte and Jake; sisters, Mary (Bob) Lakey of Urbana and Dr. Martha (John Schmitt) Yearsley of Jasper, Ind.; stepchildren, Karsten (Maggie) DeLap of Brevard, N.C., and Kristen (Todd Nadenichek) DeLap of Chicago; stepgrandchildren, Soren and Isaac; niece, Jessie (Nate) Tate of Tolono; and nephews, Emmett Yearsley of Urbana and Jason Lakey of Urbana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Howard Yearsley; and a stepgranddaughter, Margo DeLap.

John graduated from Urbana High School in 1963. His farming career was cut short when he was drafted into the Army in 1968. After serving in Vietnam in the Charlie Company, Americal Division, John was honorably discharged with two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star, coming home to continue his lifelong farming career and resume as a DeKalb seed dealer.

In between his planting and harvesting times, his love of dirt was carried over to racing late model stock cars and pulling tractors at county fairs and ag shows. He was a longtime member of the Prairie Gold Rush, and his extensive collection of Minneapolis Moline tractors is widely known. After his racing career was over, he continued to attend several dirt racing events a year as a spectator and rarely missed the Daytona 500 race. He was also a longtime board member of Yearsley Cemetery.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, March 6, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 2200 Philo Road, Urbana, IL 61802. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church.  Pastor Paul Chapman will be officiating the service and Patricia Justice the graveside service at Yearsley Cemetery. Military Rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 5520.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fisher House, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, P.O. Box 5005, Bay Pines, FL 33744; or The Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club, 11 Gallimore Road, Brevard, NC 28712, Attn. Margo DeLap Memorial Fund. Condolences may be sent at renner-wikoffchapel.com.