Dr. William C. Yockey 1924-2011

YOCKEY REYNEN MILLER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/25/2011 at 22:27:08

Sioux City Journal
7 January 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Dr. William C. Yockey, 86, of Sioux City passed away Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Kenny Hsu officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

William was born April 10, 1924, in Sioux City, to Rex and Helen (Reynen) Yockey. He received his education in Sioux City, graduating with the class of 1942 from Leeds High School. William attended the University of Iowa for a semester before enlisting with the U.S. Marine Air Corps in 1943. He served his country for three years during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific area. He received his honorable discharge as a sergeant.

William married Verlie "Lee" Miller on Aug. 25, 1946, in Paullina, Iowa. William continued his education graduating from Morningside College in 1949 with his bachelor's of science degree, and in 1950 from Penn State University with his master's degree. William returned to Sioux City teaching at Briar Cliff College for a year and working as the director of laboratory and research at what was then Sioux City's Lutheran Hospital before joining the faculty at Morningside College. William received National Science Foundation Grants to attend Montana State and Emory University and in the late 1960s received his Ph.D. from the University of South Dakota.

During his education, he gained national attention for his research in the treatment of epilepsy and convulsive seizures. He served as a professor of chemistry for 33 years at Morningside College during which time he also worked in Mercy Medical Center's lab in the areas of chemistry and toxicology. During his tenure at Morningside, he served as chairman of the chemistry department and as a faculty representative to the college board of directors. Following his retirement in 1989, William consulted with the Prince Manufacturing Company until he was 80 years old. William received numerous acknowledgments during his educational career including Order of Morningside before his retirement and the Distinguished Alumni Award just last year.

He was a member of the National Honorary Chemical Society Phi Lambda Upsilon, the American Chemical Society, the Iowa Academy of Science, the Midwest Association of Teachers of Chemistry and the National Association for the Advancement of Science. His entire life was devoted to his Christian faith. He was involved in every aspect of his church serving on numerous boards, teaching Sunday school, and singing in the choir. He also served on the board of the Sioux City Soup Kitchen and The Lutheran Service Society.

William is survived by his wife, Lee Yockey of Sioux City; children, Ronald Yockey and his wife, Jeannette of Dakota Dunes, S.D., Randy Yockey of Sergeant Bluff, Janet Fleckenstein and her husband, John of Sergeant Bluff, and Pam Shulz and her husband, Dallas of South Sioux City; brothers, Bruce Yockey and his wife, Caroline of Sioux City, and Terry Yockey and his wife, Joan of Salt Lake City, Utah; sister, Virginia Yockey of Le Mars, Iowa; grandchildren, Chris, Shawn, and Jen Yockey, Jay, Jamie, Joshua, and Jacob Fleckenstein, and Natalie Schulz; and great-grandchildren, Travis and Katelyn Yockey.

William was preceded in death by his parents; younger brother, Rene Yockey; sister, Sarah Birkhofer; grandson, Eric Yockey; and granddaughter, Emily Schulz.

Memorials can be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or Camp Okoboji (LCMS) Ministries.