Yungclas, Bruce Alan (1924-2000)

YUNGCLAS, WILSON, OLSEN, MAASS, WOLD, FORRESTER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, Jan. 10, 2000

Bruce A. Yungclas, 75, a longtime Webster City area farmer, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000 at his home. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Webster City, with Rev. James Buffington officiating. Military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post #191. Following services, Mr. Yungclas will be cremated and graveside services will be at a later date. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5-9 p.m. and at the church after 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Bruce Alan Yungclas, son of William and Ethel Wilson Yungclas, was born May 3, 1924 at the Wayside Farm, west of Webster City. He attended the Fremont Township rural school #9. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1941 and from the Webster City Junior College in 1943. He farmed, raised and sold seed corn. Entering the Army Air Corps, he served as a radar operator on a B-29 Bomber based in Tinnian, until being shot down on a bombing raid over Yokohama on Memorial Day 1945. He remained in Japan as a prisoner of war until the peace treaty was signed in September of that year. Following his discharge, he attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in farm operations. On June 20, 1948 he married Patricia May Olsen at Ellsworth. He served with the Extension Service in Hamilton County for the summers of 1947-48 as 4-H Youth Assistant. In 1950, the family moved to Manson where he taught farm operations classes to veterans. In 1951, they moved back to Fremont Township to farm with his father and brother. He continued to teach veterans on an interim basis as needed at Webster City. The couple moved to Webster City in 1977.

Survivors are his wife, Patty, sons and daughter-in-law, Alan and Karin Yungclas, Webster City, Rolf Yungclas of Sublette, KS.; a daughter and son-in-law, Leah and Robert Maass, Ellsworth; grandchildren, Allison, Jennifer and Lara May Yungclas, Emily, Amanda, Jenny, Rebecca and Robbie Maass; his father, William Yungclas, Webster City; brothers Don Yungclas, Grinnell, Thomas Yungclas, Webster City, Kreg Yungclas of Denver, CO., Bill Yungclas of Ames, sisters Virginia Wold of Paso Robles, CA., Gretchen Forrester of Murphy's, CA., several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, a son Gary Yungclas in 1970, and a brother, Reed Yungclas.

He was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church, and had served in many phases of its operation, district and state church offices, and was elected state Moderator in 1961. He was a longtime member of the Noon Kiwanis Club, also serving as Kiwanis Division 5 Lieutenant Governor in 1980-81. Other areas of involvement were past president of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Soil Conservation District, Pork Producers, Soybean Association, Webster City Community Theatre, Hamilton County Alumni Association, the Cyclone Club, board member of the ISU Alumni Association, board member of the ISU Alumni Corporation of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity for 20 years and district governor, longtime member of the Hamilton County Republican Central Committee, the ISU National Alumni Association former chair, past commander of Ex-POW's, AEA, School Board for 20 years, mentor at the Middle School and Sunset School, Hamilton County SALT taskforce member, Iowa Grain Indemnity Board, the ABI (Agriculture Committee), volunteers, Overseas Cooperative Association - trip to Russia sponsored by VOCA and to Ukraina sponsored by ICI Seeds, a former Jaycee President and Men's Senior Golf.

Memorials may be given to the Hamilton County Hospice/Respite, Bess Lyons Scholarship, or the Four Seasons Lodge at Pilgrim Heights Camp.