Memorial

Dr. Anton Vincent Yanda, Jr., retired veterinarian and funeral director, 94, of Yukon, passed away on Sat., Jan. 5, 2008 in Yukon. Anton Jr., son of Anton Yanda Sr. who came to America at the age of 21 from Budejovacs, Czechoslovakia and married Carrie Vrana in 1909 was born July 19, 1913 in Spencer, Oklahoma. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers Frank, Ben, and Albien, one sister Emily Yeck, first wife Helen Margaret Yanda, and son Anton Vincent Yanda III. Anton was a 1932 graduate of Yukon High School where during his senior year he placed 2nd in a state oratorical contest held at the Central Oklahoma Teachers College (UCO) in Edmond. During the same year he won the state award for best acting and a district award as a baritone soloist at Oklahoma City University. In high school he was active in band and a lineman on the football team which went undefeated for three years. The Lions Club of Yukon awarded him a $10 gold piece as the Best All-Around Student. From that he received two scholarship offers, University of Chicago and Northwestern University of Wisconsin at Madison. Anton attended Northwestern for one year, but soon became homesick and returned to Yukon, helping on his father's farm and working at Yukon Mill and Grain Co. On October 16,1941 Anton married Helen Macumber of El Reno, OK and of that union two children were born, son Anton III and daughter, Debra. In February of 1942 Anton was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He was assigned to the 9th Air Force Paratroopers Headquarters, serving 36 months in India, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Malta, Italy, England and France. He was also attached to the 8th Air Force in England. He was a WWII veteran who served five years obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and receiving the Good Conduct Medal. After the war Anton returned to Yukon and worked for Armour Company as head of the Better Management Department. Anton grew tired of his job and with the urging of Dr. Selement decided to go to Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University, to study veterinarian medicine. He graduated in 1953 and set up practice in Yukon specializing in both large and small animals. He became very involved with the FFA and started a scholarship program. In 1959 Anton and Helen decided to go into the funeral business and began the Yanda Funeral Home. They bought the John F. Kroutil mansion on 5th Street, converted it into a funeral home, and both became licensed funeral directors. At the same time they also started an ambulance service which was later taken over by his son Anton III and became known as Yukon EMS. Helen Yanda died on January 26, 1978 after a lengthy illness. Anton married Barbara Smrcka February 18,1979. She helped with the funeral business from time to time for many years. In the early 1980s land was purchased at 1500 W. Vandament where a new funeral home was built. A few years later his son, Anton Yanda III, became interested and obtained his funeral director license. Retiring from Veterinary medicine in 1982, Anton enjoyed the funeral business as well as farming. Reflecting on his life in the business world, Anton said, 'In life and all my business endeavors I've tried to do the best I could with the way I ran my business to save people money and treat them right,' he said. 'I never got tired of working hard until I turned 80, except for farming. I feel I've always been lucky in life. I've always wanted to serve the public. I feel like I have done something worthwhile.' Anton continued to farm until the age of 90. Anton served on the Yukon Board of Adjustments for several years, was a past-president of the Yukon Lions Club, past-member of Yukon Chamber of Commerce, past-president of WFLA Lodge #86 and a member of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church. Survivors include: wife Barbara Yanda of the home, daughter Debra Vossen and husband Dan of Yukon, grandchildren Anton Vincent Yanda IV (Tony) and wife Kimberly, Avy Doran, Adam Vossen, Kevin Vossen, Lance Yanda, daughter-in-law Donna Yanda, step-sons Bruce and Joe Smrcka and step-grandchildren Josh, Steve and Danny Smrcka, all of Yukon, sisters-in-law Torrence Daggs of El Reno, Patsy McDaniel of Oklahoma City, Florence and husband Leroy Straka of Moore, brothers-in-law Stanley and wife Lillian Kolar of Arcadia, Max and wife Elizabeth Kolar of Oklahoma City and several nieces and nephews.