John August 'Jay' Yetka

John August Yetka (Jay), age 93, died quietly at home on Friday, June 22, 2012. John was born August 28, 1918 in Cloquet, Minnesota to John Martin Yetka and Barbara Margaret Soijke. John met the girl of his dreams on a train, while headed home on furlough, and a year later married Anna Jahner on July 31, 1945. He is survived by children, Dianne (Michael) Linskens, Corinne Yetka, and Robert (Christy) Yetka; grandchildren, Nicole, Brett (Paula), Tricia and Michaela Linskens, Samantha and Alex Yetka; great-grandchildren, Brianna, Sarina, and Carina Halvorsen, and Roman Linskens; sister, Geraldine (William) Koch; brother-in-law, Peter Jahner, and sister-in-law, Marie Feist. He is preceded in death by his wife, Anne; son, Dennis; infant daughter, Dianne; parents, John and Barbara; brothers, Joseph, Jerome, and Victor; and sisters, Marian, Therese, Anne, Lucille and Delores. He grew up on the South side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attending St. Florian's Catholic School, Greenfield School, Walker Junior H.S. and South Division H.S. John extended his education at Arizona State University, General Motors Institute of Technology, and Milwaukee School of Engineering. John was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and advanced to crew chief on his second stint. John proudly served as a boilermaker 1st Class in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1945; first aboard the USS Louisville and for the last year aboard the USS Cape Esperance. He continued his service in the U.S. Naval reserve. Having served during peacetime, he had the opportunity of traveling the world extensively on 'good will tours' before WWII started. He passed his love of travel and other cultures to his family. A fascination with aviation may have begun on an aircraft carrier, but continued while working for Goodyear Aircraft in Phoenix. Later on, he was proud to have been a part of the space race working as a Quality Control Engineer at General Motors on guidance systems for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space missions. In Junior High and High School, John participated in track and football and when at home enjoyed the family's passion for tennis as well as ice skating and ski jumping with friends. It was in the CCC and the navy that he developed his passion for baseball which continued while he was in the Navy and later with Goodyear Aircraft. Dad was a catcher and was proud to have gone up to bat against Satchel Paige in an exhibition game in Bremerton, Washington. Satchel burned three pitches past him that he could never have touched. While playing for Goodyear Aircraft, his team was 'wiped' by a former women's professional league team. Great fun! Later on, John took up golfing. He joined the company league and eventually became a scratch golfer and league secretary. When he was a young man, he apprenticed to his father, a builder, and learned carpentry and masonry. He helped build many a home in the South St. Paul area (if you see arched stone entryways - those were his signature work) and in Milwaukee, including homes for his parents and two of his sisters. Finally, after retiring, he built his own cottage in the woods in Pound, Wisconsin. He and Anne spent many happy years in what he called 'God's Country.' He was a 17 year pancreatic cancer survivor, a caregiver to his wife, and was possessed of a phenomenal energy and facility right up to the end. He led by example; by questioning, by studying, by being a hard worker, and always a gentleman. While John was a very private person, he attracted people nonetheless. He was adopted as 'pa' and 'grandpa Jay' by many and as ' dziadek' by our Polish family. He will be dearly missed by all of us! A mass and memorial service will be celebrated later this summer at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Coleman, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, John would have preferred everyone to spend their money on their own good causes or on having a good time in his memory (especially at the casino).