Albert Yonke

Albert J. Yonke passed away peacefully on June 16, 2011 at Kingswood Health Center. He was surrounded by his loving family. Al was born on March 8, 1927 Kansas City, Missouri and was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1944 he was in the first graduating class of Lillis High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society, the Editor of the monthly school newspaper-illustrator and a member of debate team.

After attending college he graduated from KCU Law School (now UMKC Law School) with Juris Doctor Degree in 1950 where he was a member of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity.

Al was admitted to practice before the Missouri Supreme Court in 1950. He was also admitted to numerous other Courts which included the United States Supreme Court, the United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the United States District Court – Kansas and the United States District Court-Western District of Texas

Al was a trial lawyer for over sixty (60) years representing exclusively working people and injured persons and survivors in wrongful death cases. He tried numerous jury and court cases in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area; in many of the circuit courts in Missouri and district courts of Wyandotte and Johnson County, Kansas, as well as jury and court cases in many other counties in Missouri. He tried many cases in the Federal Courts of Missouri, Kansas and Ohio.

He briefed several cases in the US Supreme Court but never had the opportunity to argue a case before the US Supreme Court.

He briefed and argued cases before the US 8th and 10th Courts of Appeal, Missouri Supreme Court and Missouri Appellate Courts.

He briefed and argued over 30 cases in the Federal Courts of Appeal, in the Missouri Supreme Court and Missouri Appellate Courts which are reported in legal publications.

He also tried numerous cases before the Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Kansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Missouri Public Services Commission and the Missouri Division of Insurance. He also tried numerous arbitration cases.

He tried several major criminal cases in the US District Courts of Missouri including a multi defendant federal criminal case which received national media coverage.

In addition to his trial practice, Al dedicated his professional career representing several labor unions for over 50 years.

Beginning in 1979, his law firm specialized in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) matters and represented most of the jointly managed Pension, Welfare, Apprentice and Vacation Funds in the construction industry in Missouri and Kansas; and Pension and Welfare Funds in Central and Western Texas.

He was active in the early 1960’s in registering voters and getting out the vote to pass the Kansas City, Missouri Public Accommodations Law. He was a Missouri Special Assistant Attorney General in the administration of John Dalton, later Missouri Governor, and in the administration of Missouri Attorney General Thomas Eagleton, later the distinguished United States Senator from Missouri. He was the Tax Attorney for the Jackson County Collector. He also acted as the Special Prosecutor for Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1995, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association awarded him the distinguished Litigator Emeritus Award, an award recognizing attorneys who have shown exemplary skills and ethics as an attorney over the course their career.

While his professional accomplishments in his life are remarkable, it is his golden heart and constant desire to help others that will be missed. Al will always be remembered as a truly kind man who was a wonderful friend, mentor and a loving, caring husband, father and grampsy. He is truly considered a hero by his family and those close to him

He is survived by Sherry, his loving wife of 44 years, and his sons, Robert Yonke and Michael Yonke, two granddaughters, Michelle Yonke and Chloe Yonke and his grandson Albert Peter Yonke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Matilda Yonke, who emigrated to the United States from Austria-Hungary in the early part of the 20th Century. Other members of his family emigrated to Kansas City, Missouri in the 1880’s. He was also preceded in death by his long time friend and dog, Princess “Princie” Yonke.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to all of the staff at Kingswood Health Center for the kind, loving support and care that they provided Al over the last nine months.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 20, 2011 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at McGilley Memorial Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11822 Holmes Road Kansas City, Missouri; burial following at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas More Parish, De La Salle, or the Bishop Sullivan Center.

You may view the Kansas City Star's tribute to Albert here:

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/05/2996183/tribute-albert-yonke-was-an-advocate.html