Yungclas, William Herbert (1899-2001)

YUNGCLAS, ARGUBRIGHT, WILSON, WOLD, FORRESTER, MAASS, OBERENDER, THOMPSON, REEK

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/3/2022 at 09:46:17

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Monday, November 19, 2001

Probably one of the more colorful gentlemen around the Webster City area and one who knew as much as anyone about the history of Webster City was William H. Yungclas. Mr. Yungclas, 102, died Friday morning, Nov. 17, 2001 at the Hamilton Hospital in Webster City. A visitation will be held at the Foster Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and burial will be Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Graceland Cemetery at Webster City. Acacia Lodge #176 A.F. and A.M. will conduct a Masonic Service Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 at the First Congregational Church in Webster City with Rev. James Buffington officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Four Seasons Lodge of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Congregational Church of Webster City or Meals on Wheels.

William Herbert Yungclas, son of Henry T. and Anna Mae Argubright Yungclas, was born Feb. 15, 1899 at the farm house his father built in 1890, west of Webster City. Bill lived in this same house for more than 50 years. He received his education at the Fremont #9 rural school, graduated from Webster City High School in 1914, attended Webster City Business College and also attended Iowa State University in Ames. In January of 1921, he started a farming partnership with his father. While he was attending classes at Iowa State, he met Ethel Wilson and they were married August 4, 1921 at Omaha, Neb. They farmed until 1954 when they moved to Webster City. Mrs. Yungclas died July 25, 1985.

Mr. Yungclas is survived by sons, Rev. Don Yungclas of Grinnell, Thomas Yungclas of Webster City, Kreg Yungclas of Denver, Colo., William Yungclas of Ames; daughters, Virginia Wold of Paso Robles, Calif., Gretchen Forrester of Murphys, Calif., daughter-in-law Patty Yungclas of Webster City; 21 grandchildren including Alan Yungclas of Webster City, Leah Maass of Ellsworth, Rolf Yungclas of Sublette, Kan., Greta Oberender, Webster City, Ted Yungclas of Mansfield Center, CT., and Janna Thompson, Harbor Oaks, Fla.; 26 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his sons, Reed and Bruce Yungclas, brother James A. Yungclas, sister, Claire Reek, grandson, Gary John Yungclas.

Mr. Yungclas was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ. Other memberships and organizations include: Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Noon Kiwanis, Acacia Lodge #176, Federal Land Bank, charter board member of Production Credit Association and was president of the board for 37 years, Iowa Swine Producers, past president, American Pork Producers, past president, National Agricultural Advisory Committee for the Land Bank, Farm Bureau member for 60 years, one of the first Meals on Wheels drivers, Community Health Corps Driver, Cancer drive campaigner for 25 years, one of the originators of the Senior Citizen's Center in Webster City.

Bill and Ethel had a great love for the ability to travel within the United States and also enjoyed the numerous visits to foreign countries. Photography was Bill's main hobby and he shared his travels, in this manner, with friends and relatives. In 1980, he published a book, "Listen My Children," a collection of childhood memories and events. Bill, along with Libby Miller, were honored guests of the 1982 Quasquicentennial Celebration in Webster City.