Obituary of Joseph John Yankowski

Joseph John Yankowski was 91 years old when he passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 25, 2014 due to complications from ALS. He was born on November 27, 1922 in Staten Island, New York, as the second of six children born to Theodore and Boleslawa (Konopka) Jankowski, who migrated from Poland after World War I. Joe met his future wife, Christine Brandt, in 1941 on a blind date arranged by her cousin. Soon thereafter, he was drafted into the US Army and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Chris and Joe married in 1944, and they had two children, Linda and Tom. Joe will always be a New Yorker, but he often said the best decision he ever made was to move his young family to California in 1963. He accepted employment as a design engineer in the aeronautics industry, and he actually worked on the ground controls for the Saturn II rocket that went to the moon. When the recession hit the space industry in 1969, Joe needed to start a second career, no small feat for someone who was 47 years old without a college degree. He eventually became the head of the audio visual department for the Orange Unified School District in Southern California. He and Chris both chose to retire at the age of 62. They led active lives for the next 30 years, traveling to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, while also participating in social activities through their church. Joe was an avid golfer, an amateur photographer who developed his own photos in the basement, and an excellent bowler with many trophies. On his 90th birthday, Joe bowled a 224 game. Joe and Chris moved to Olympia, Washington, in November 2013 to be closer to family, after having lived over 50 years in Orange, California. They had many close relationships in Orange, with family, friends and their church community at Covenant Community Church (formerly First Baptist Church of Orange). Joe was the Head Usher for many years at his church. But Joe’s true exploits were to be found in his connections with his immediate and extended family. He was always supportive of his two children, whether it be passing on his love for mathematics to his daughter, who became a medical doctor, or teaching the value of sports competition to his son, who started his own business. He was affectionately known as “Uncle Joe” to more than 50 cousins, and he was always the life of the party at any wedding, often dancing with all the bridesmaids. Joe instilled a sense of unconditional love to his three grandchildren, Colin, Nico, and Maura, as he played every board game with them, cheered at every one of their athletic events, and attended every one of their dance, theater, or musical programs. Joe’s most endearing legacy will be his loving relationship with Chris, his wife for almost 70 years. They were best friends. Joe would always kiss Chris when he returned home from work, and he often left her love notes signed with XXX at the bottom. They were inseparable during their wonderful life together. They will continue to be inseparable in spirit after Joe’s passing. Joe leaves behind his wife Christine (Brandt) Yankowski of Olympia WA; his son Thomas Yankowski and his wife Trinidad Madrigal and son Nicolas of San Francisco; his daughter Linda O’Leary, MD and her husband Burke O’Leary of Olympia WA, and their children Maura O’Leary, world traveler, and Colin O’Leary of Carrboro, NC. He also is survived by his brother Paul Jankowski of Phoenix, AZ, his sister Helen Gowski of Clearwater, FL and his sister-in-law Gertrude Brandt of Staten Island, NY. Also, he is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom claim him as Uncle Joe. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brothers Anthony, Edward, and Walter, and by his sister Claire. He also was beloved by his in-laws: Eleanor Yankowski, Annette Jankowski, Edward Gowski, Anthony Gleba, Henry Brandt, Dorothy and Edward Tivenan, all of whom preceded him in death. The family would like to thank the ALS Association in Orange County and in Western Washington, along with the ALS Clinic at the Veterans Administration in Seattle and American Lake for their ongoing support for our dad. A memorial service and burial with full military honors was held in Olympia on February 27, 2014 with family and friends. A celebration of life will be held in April at the Covenant Community Church in Orange, CA. Donations to the ALS Association in Joe’s name would be appreciated, to help fight this difficult disease. Husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend—he will be missed by all who knew him. Please leave memories of Joe or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.