Megan Rae Yonkey

Megan was a special soul—genuine, warm, and without pretense. To know her was to witness a woman of quiet conviction and great integrity. She was a deep thinker, often reflective, always thoughtful and considerate, approaching both life’s challenges and its joys with a sense of purpose and care.

Megan was born on September 14, 1976 to Art and Betty Yonkey in Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended Norris Public Schools. She was an honor student and an outstanding athlete, running cross country and track. She continued her love of running in college and beyond. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University where she ran cross country and track. After college, Megan ran many marathons — her fastest time was 3 hours and 12 minutes, with her other marathons close to that mark. Megan’s family owns Yonkey Pine, a Christmas tree farm; she and her older brother Jason were active each year helping the family business, a source of pride and joy. A testament to this spirit was the Christmas tree tattoo she got while in Colorado, a lasting memory from the Bolder Boulder run shared with close running friends.

Megan was not only a world traveler — having visited over 30 countries — but also a true citizen of the world, living and teaching at American Schools in Guatemala for two years, Taiwan for seven years, and, for the last nine years, in the Netherlands. Last year she achieved her goal of becoming a permanent resident of the Netherlands by fulfilling all requirements, including passing the Dutch language exam!

Megan’s personal life reflected a deep richness. She had a subtle mojo—a spark all her own. She was funny in the most unexpected ways, her dry wit catching you just when you needed it most. Independent and strong, she forged her own path, while always staying deeply involved in the lives of others. Each Saturday without fail, she and her Dad shared a video call. That last week of her life, it became abundantly clear how many lives she stayed involved with despite living and teaching in multiple countries. Messages from friends all over the world poured in through WhatsApp. Megan had a superb memory and remembered her friends’ and family’s life moments that mattered to them – from an upcoming doctor’s appointment to an anniversary to a friend’s exam. One would often receive a text saying she was thinking of them and wishing them good luck.

Megan’s greatest legacy is not a single achievement, but the countless ways she made people feel seen, heard, known, and loved. She was the best listener and problem-solver. Her friend Melissa said, “Megan could be friends with you, even if you weren’t like her.” Megan had a great gift to encounter people from all walks of life, see the good in them, and befriend them for life. She also made friends of all ages. Brooke’s seven-year-old daughter Nina Louisa said, “Megan always made special time for me.” Through meals, coffee dates, walks, messages, or calls, Megan made time for her friends — and in doing so, made them feel deeply valued — and they, in turn, treasured her. As a lover of flowers and beauty, she leaves behind a garden in full bloom in many countries and on different continents: her beloved dad Art, her sister-in-law Deb, extended family, dear friends, fellow runners, devoted colleagues, and cherished students.

During Megan’s 20+ years as an educator, she first taught in the Lincoln Catholic Schools and in Syracuse, NE before she began teaching internationally. She was highly committed to the growth and well-being of her students and colleagues. Her students didn’t just learn from her—they were shaped by her. She taught with both head and heart, with lessons that often extended well beyond the classroom. For her colleagues, Megan was a highly organized force of calm in a world that often spins too fast. She was resilient, composed, and always willing to roll up her sleeves. She approached every project with commitment, every conversation with sincerity, and every person with dignity. She had a natural ability to lead without dominating, to support without seeking credit. People sought her out not just for her insight, but for her warmth, her wisdom, and her steady presence.

Above all, Megan was good. A priest friend, Msgr. Perkinton said, “Megan was always good, from start to finish.” Not in a grand or performative way, but in the quiet, everyday sense that matters most. She was caring, committed, and sincere—a woman whose goodness came not from what she said, but from how she lived. She also had a strong faith. The last several years, she prayed a Holy Hour (an hour spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament) each week. Not one to cry, she often shared that she came away from these Holy Hours crying tears of joy. God had touched her heart in such a way that she felt deeply consoled.

Megan was, in every sense of the word, a marathoner—especially when it came to cancer. She lost both her Mom Betty and her brother Jason to cancer. She herself lived with cancer for seven and a half years. A lesser person in her shoes would have crumbled from such loss and diagnosis. Instead, Megan lived life on her own terms, embracing each day as a gift. She once shared that cancer helped her define what was truly important in life. She stressed less and focused more on life’s joys. With clarity and deliberate intention, she lived each day fully—gathering people close, listening more deeply, laughing more freely. Illness never defined her; instead, it refined her focus. Megan’s final chapter was not one of fading, but of sharpened light—a time of connection, love, and unshakable presence. She ran her race with grace, and the world is better because she was here. She is greatly missed.

“I have competed well; I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness await me.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

A rosary will be held Friday, July 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM at Saint James Catholic Church, 500 W 1st St, Cortland, NE 68331. Memorials can be directed to Lobular Cancer Research.

You can view a livestream of Megan's service @ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15x3dKL8z6/?mibextid=wwXIfr