Byron Duke Yang

at Unity Point Proctor in Peoria.

He was born February 8, 1951 in Honolulu, Hi to Stephen and Emiko

(Kamasaki) Yang. He married Debra Gould on June 23, 1979. She survives

along with his mother, two sons Matthew L. Yang of Peoria, Justin S. Yang

of Peoria, seven grandchildren, one great grandson, and two brothers:

Leonard (Janet) Yang of Winchester, VA, and Lloyd Yang of Indiana.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Byron was a firefighter in Peoria for 37 years retiring in 2016. Byron

loved the men and women he served with on the Peoria Fire Department. They were

his brothers and sisters for whom he would gladly lay down his life.

Every one of them knew - if they needed help - Byron would be there.

Byron owned and operated Sound of Peoria for 35 years.

Byron was quite the family man - often teaching his sons his passion of

football. To Byron, football was more than just a game. He taught life

lessons and rules to live by intertwined with fundamentals of playing the game.

He coached for over 20 years. The teams he coached included Central JFL, Woodruff

High School, Manual High School, East Peoria High School, and Peoria Punishers Semi Pro Team.

Through JFL, High School, and College, Byron became a mentor to those young men. He was famous for his "running hills" football drills. But most of all, those young men mattered deeply to him and often remained an important part of his life into their adulthood. In fact, Byron's legacy is truly the meaning of "He would give you the shirt off his back". That shirt would most likely have a Chicago Bears logo on it.

Creamation rites have been accorded. A Celebration of Life will be Sunday February 23rd, 2025 from 1-to-4 pm at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria.

Memorials may be made to the charity of donor's choice.

You may view Byron's online obituary and tributes at www.Davison-FultonWoodlandChapel.com