Joe Alan Ylitalo's Obituary
Joe Alan Ylitalo, 70, left this earth to be with his Beloved Lord and Savior on Saturday November 19, 2016, after a valiant 10-year fight with cancer and related heart problems. He was blessed with a peaceful passing at home, surrounded by his loved ones. His sense of humor was evident up until the very end, as he told more than one visitor. “I sure regret telling everyone I’ll be around until the Cubs win the World Series.”
Joe was born in Staples, MN, on September 5, 1946. After a military brat childhood, Joe graduated from Mac Arthur H.S. in San Antonio, TX, in 1964, and was commissioned into the U.S. Navy following his 1968 graduation from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in Engineering. Joe then attended flight school in Pensacola, FL, and jet training in Kingsville, TX, before switching the focus of his naval career to Surface Warfare. Upon separation from the Navy in 1978, Joe earned his J.D. from the University of Houston Law School. Sworn in to the State Bar of Texas, he joined the legal team at Texaco, Inc. until he met his bride, Martha, and moved to her hometown of Longview, TX, where he continued his law practice with Kenley, Boyland & Coghlan. In 1986, Joe joined his mentor as a partner in their law firm Coghlan, Crowson, Robertson & Ylitalo.
With five active children, Joe saw the advantages to moving in-house. In 1990, Joe excitedly accepted the role as the first General Counsel of Vertex Communications in Kilgore, TX. The mix of operations and law was a great fit for the Naval Officer and Attorney in Joe. In 2002, Pilgrims Pride, Inc. in Pittsburg, TX, asked Joe to establish their legal department as their first in-house General Counsel. He took pleasure in his remaining working years doing what he enjoyed so much. Even though Joe retired in 2011 from the full-time practice of law, he remained a valued counselor to so many within his family and his community.
Joe had many loves…God, family, community, politics, and sports. His strong belief in Jesus Christ was the backbone of his life. He faithfully attended Bible Study Fellowship for 23 years, including the week before he passed. Joe’s family life was a daily adventure, with Martha as his compass. A devoted husband and father, you couldn’t miss the pride in his voice when he spoke about his best friend and wife, Martha, whom he relied upon unceasingly, and their children, by whom he felt blessed beyond expectation.
Joe’s sense of family was not limited by biology; he was a coach, mentor, or second father to the hordes his five children brought home. It was a rare game where Joe’s booming voice couldn’t be heard “cheering” from the sidelines. Joe could be found volunteering at Church, speaking to the School Board, helping out his neighbors by writing letters, anonymously buying groceries for strangers, or silently carrying out good deeds that he never expected or wanted recognition for.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. “Joe” and Faye Stish Ylitalo, and his in-laws Judge Henry and Grace McKinney. He is survived by his wife, Martha McKinney Ylitalo, five children, Amanda Ylitalo, Chris Ylitalo and wife Charisse, Emily Gaston and husband Grant, Elizabeth Eckert and husband Steve, Meredith Rodriguez and husband Derek, grandchildren Wesley Rose Ylitalo; Carver, Cason, and Caplar Ylitalo; Zakkary, Daniel, Bridget, and Joshua Gaston; Ethan Eckert and Phoenix Eckert Moore; and Lance, Catherine, Tatum, and June Rodriguez, four brothers, Jon, David, Troy, Dean, and one sister, Sharr, and countless nieces and nephews who brought him much joy.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jack Jenkins, Thomas McKinney, Doug McKinney, Merland Stebbins, John Fisher, Jr., Michael Wilgen, Jay Bissell, Jack Sammon, Jim Marshall, Marty Conner, Barron Neal, Fred Slayback, and Douglas Reagan.
Memorials may be made to Greggton United Methodist Church, Bible Study Fellowship International, Heart’s Way Hospice, or the charity of your heart.
Visitation will be at Greggton United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2016, with a Service Celebrating the Life of Joe Ylitalo to follow at noon. Joe requested his ashes be scattered over the Pacific Ocean by the Keawala’i Congregational Church in Makena, Maui, Hawai’i, a favorite place of worship for Joe and Martha.
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