Obit: Yakaites, Anthony F. (1917 – 2005)
Contact: Ken Wood.

----Surnames: Yakaites, Norkaitis, Miller, Nickel, Reckner, Paap, Schneck, Woicek, King, Feucht, Rather, Abraham, Stoetzel

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Wed., 17 Aug. 2005

Yakaites, Anthony F. (19 Feb. 1917 – 16 Aug. 2005)

Anthony F. Yakaites, 88, of 1612 Jean Lane, Marshfield, died on Tues., Aug. 16, 2005, at the House of The Dove Hospice Home in Marshfield.

Tony was born on Feb. 19, 1917, in Fond du Lac, to Frank and Catherine Norkaitis Yakaites, where he attended North Fond du Lac High School.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from Aug. 9, 1939, until his honorable discharge Sept. 16, 1945. Tony survived the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941, by the Japanese.

His first marriage was to Elaine Miller on April 8, 1948, in Marshfield. She died on Nov. 8, 1960.

He was then married to Bernice E. Nickel Reckner on Sept. 12, 1973, in Marshfield. Bernice died on May 9, 2005.

Tony worked as a brakeman and conductor for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for over 30 years. During this period of time he would work on the Fond du Lac to Marshfield line and stay in Marshfield. This is when he met Bernice, as she was a waitress at the Downtowner Restaurant. In life, Tony’s main loves were his Catholic faith and his family. His hobby was following the Green Bay Packers.

He is survived by one son, Dale (Gail) Yakaites of Marshfield; a daughter, Diane Yakaites of Fond du Lac; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren. He is further survived by four stepchildren, Jerry (Sandy) Reckner of Milwaukee, Jim (Pat) Reckner of Spencer, Shirley (Jim) Paap of Fremont, Ohio, and Ken (Paulette) Reckner of Marshfield; a daughter-in-law, Jane (Reckner) Buechel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents; his wives; one stepson, Robert Reckner; two grandsons, Steve Reckner and David Schneck; two brothers, Frank and Joseph “Doc” Yakaites; five sisters, Nell Woicek, Ann King, Agnes Feucht, Katie Rather and Lillian Abraham.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 19, 2005, at St. John’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Charles D. Stoetzel officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the church following the funeral services by the American Legion Post 54 of Marshfield. Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Sat. Aug. 20, at Calvary Cemetery in Fond du Lac.

Visitation: Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the services on Fri., Aug. 19, 2005, at the church.

Memorials may be given in Tony’s name to St. John’s Catholic Church.

Rembs/Kundinger Funeral Home, Marshfield, is assisting the family with arrangements.