Joseph Yurkovic
February 12, 1922 — December 31, 2012
Sir Knight Joseph Anthony Yurkovic passed away peacefully on December 31, 2012 at the age 90 years after a lengthy illness. He was born to Vinca (Vincent) and Anastasia (Anna) Tomasevic Yurkovic on February 12, 1922 on their farm in Ft. Wayne, IN. His parents migrated from Croatia through Austria to America finally settling in Ft. Wayne, IN. He is preceded in death by his parents, nine brothers and sisters, first wife, and eldest daughter, Marie. Survivors include his devoted wife and soul mate of 52 years Billie Devoille Ross Glazener Yurkovic of San Antonio, Texas; step-sons Ron (Pat) Glazener, Sr., of Schertz, TX, and Milton Glazener of Hunting Beach, CA; daughters: Paula (James) Hansen of McGregor, TX, and Christina Skipworth of Port Isabel, TX; adored by many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Joe left the family farm in Ft. Wayne, IN at the age of about 16-17 years to join one of his older brothers who worked in a factory in Detroit, MI. He interned and labored as a sheet metal worker before enlisting in the U. S. Marine Corps in February 1943. He served proudly as a Marine assigned to the U. S. Marines 3rd Division. He trained as a recon and sniper. He qualified expert using the BAR and was sent to New Zealand to prepare for island-hopping in the Pacific Theater. He was critically injured in New Zealand, following night maneuvers, immediately before his Company was shipped out to begin the invasion of Japan. He was taken to the Navy hospital, where a Naval Officer marked his forehead with an M for Morphine, and told a Corpsman that this one wasnt going to make it. Joe remembers responding with, Like Hell I wont. The next thing he remembers is sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and hearing Ella Fitzgerald sing That Old Black Magic. That was four months after his injury. His injuries didnt stop him from missing any opportunity to have fun. On one occasion, he reportedly was in a full-body cast strapped to a priest friend snow skiing down a slope. Following an honorable discharge he continued to do sheet metal work and became Master Sheet Metal Journeyman. He eventually moved to Sacramento, CA and worked at AeroJet General. It was there that he met the love of his life, his beloved Billie. He pursued Billie until he won her heart, praised God for helping him snag her. They married on July 2, 1961 in Reno, NV. Joe and Billie left AeroJet General for Phoenix, AZ when Joe accepted work at Air Research Corporation. Because of his skill in working with exotic metals, he was assigned temporarily to a Top Secret project with Baker-Hughes in Tucson, AZ. He confirmed that he was one of three specialists who fabricated the prototype tri-pod landing gear for the Surveyor 1 Lunar Module subsequently deployed in the Apollo space program. After retiring, Joe and Billie moved to Camp Verde, AZ. Joe never forgot his humble beginnings and served selflessly in the Knights of Columbus for six decades. He became a Third-Degree Knight in the mid-fifties but didnt become significantly involved until the mid-seventies after he and Billie moved to Camp Verde, AZ. Joe held all possible offices in Knights of Columbus Verde Valley Assembly 2747. He became a Fourth-Degree Knight holding various offices eventually attaining the Office of Past Grand Knight of Verde Valley Council 2493. His last wishes include donating his chapeaux, cape, Baldric and petard to a deserving Knight. He was also active for many years in the DAV and VFW respectively attaining the rank of Commander. Joe was a devout and faithful Catholic. A true people-person, Joe was affable, generous to a fault, and never spoke unkindly about anyone. He saw every person as a child of God and was particularly active in and supporting Pro-Life. He and Billie were very active members of Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Camp Verde, AZ becoming a Deacon and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. He and Billie spent many of their Sundays visiting the sick, offering communion and friendship. Thats how he acquired the nickname Father Joe. Joe greeted each day with a big smile and a good morning for everyone he met. He taught us by example to be happy with who you are, what you have, to see the good in everyone, to love God and to love your neighbor. Joes life-long credo was God, Family, Country, and Duty. Semper Fi, Pop. Well miss you! Visitation will begin at 9:30AM on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 16075 N. Evans Road, Selma, TX 78154. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 10:15AM and the Funeral Mass will begin at 11:00AM. Interment will be held at 2:00PM on Monday, January 14, 2013, with military honors, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 17501 Nacogdoches Road (FM 2252), San Antonio, TX 78266. The family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes. The family especially thanks the Seraphic Sisters and wonderful staff at St. Francis Nursing Home for their kind and compassionate care during Joes time under their tender and loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials and donations be made to St. Francis Nursing Home, 630 W. Woodlawn Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212
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