Captain Malvern Clarence YARKE

Captain Malvern “Mal” Clarence Yarke passed away at McClay Senior Care on Friday, September 20th, 2019 at the age of 84. He was born on Tuesday, August 27th 1935 in Des Plaines, Illinois to the late Clarence M. and Edna (Dohe) Yarke. Mal was a loving husband to Jill A. (Dyche) Yarke, in which they shared 25 years of marriage together. Shortly after attending college at Drake University, Mal joined the Naval Reserves in 1953 where his love for flying began. He went to work for Pan American World Airways as a sales representative and later became a sales Manager in Chicago, IL. It was then he decided deskwork wasn’t for him and went into aviation with Montgomery Wards flying DC-3s. Mal worked for North Central Airlines for two years then began his long career working at TWA where he retired after 28 years of service. Once retired his love of aviation lead him to become a flight instructor with Flight Safety. Later he went on to work for Boeing in Miami and Minnesota as a flight instructor for the Navy and Marine Corp through 2012. During his long aviation career, he was awarded Flight Deck Man of the Year with TWA in 1970 as well as the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, given to individuals who had achieved 50 years of accident free flying, in 2010. Mal also loved sports. Early on Mal was a standout football and baseball player in high school. Mal attended a tryout for both the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs where he became lifelong friends with Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks. He played for the Elmhurst Travelers of the American Football Association Semi-Pro Football League from 1955 – 1966, winning the championship in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Mr. Yarke was inducted into the AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2009. Along with numerous accomplishments with the Travelers, he also had the opportunity to attend training camp with the Green Bay Packers under the legendary coach Vince Lombardi. Mal belonged to the American Legion Post 313, was a member of the Marine Corp League and was also a member at Sunrise Methodist Church in St. Peters, MO. Mal is predeceased by his parents; his brother, Harlan Eugene “Bud” Yarke; his sister Susan “Sue” Lois Yarke; his former wife, friend and mother of his 2 children, Lael Yarke; and son, Matthew D. KirkpatrickYarke. Survivors include his wife, Jill A. (Dyche) Yarke; his children, Kristen “Kris” Foster (Tim) Kingston, WA, Kurt Yarke (Tara) El Dorado, CA, Erin Lee (Cameron) Moncks Corner, SC and Andrew “Andy” Christie (Danielle) St. Joseph, MO; his grandchildren Kalan Thomas (Josh), Daniel Yarke, Leyland Foster, Dane Foster, Taylor Foster, Sara Foster, Ella Christie, Wrigley Christie, Oliver Lee; great grandchildren, Oliver Thomas, Anahlia Jayne Axtell. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Captain Malvern Clarence YARKE

August 27, 1935 - September 20, 2019