Arthur Clifford Yahraus

Arthur “Art” Clifford Yahraus of Phoenix, AZ passed away on Feb. 17, 2024 at the age of 92. He was born on April 19, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, the second-born child of Andrew and Christine Yahraus, and brother to Richard, Darlene, and Daniel.

On Dec. 27, 1952, Art married his beloved Marge. The couple had five children: Karen Yahraus; Kimberly (Yahraus) Kinkel, married to Joe; Christine (Yahraus) Hughes, married to Sam; Tammy (Yahraus) Mehl, married to Dieter; and Mark Yahraus, married to Emily. Marge preceded him in death on July 4, 2022.

Art was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a rifle sergeant during the Korean War, stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. After the marines, he trained as a machinist and became a tool and die maker, known for his precision. In 1976, Art moved his family from Mansfield to Phoenix, where he and Marge managed two nursing homes and later cared for the elderly in their home. During that time, he also worked for Lucent Technologies, retiring after 18 years of service.

Beloved for his sense of humor and kindhearted nature, Art was a devoted man of faith who deeply loved his family and friends. He served as a lay minister in the Apostolic Christian Church in Ohio and Arizona. When greeting someone he would often say, “You’re shaking the hand of a man who loves the Lord.” A craftsman at heart, he applied his skills as a machinist to woodworking in retirement. He was also an avid golfer and loved to go boating. Mostly he loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren.

In addition to his children, Art is survived by his ten grandchildren: Micah Hughes, married to Avery; Annie (Kinkel) DeVries, married to Stephen; Jessica (Kinkel) Burnham, married to Joel; Mark Hughes, married to Erin; James Drake, married to Jules; Brittany Yahraus; Matthew Kinkel; Benjamin Yahraus; Kaleb Drake; Bethany (Yahraus) Blasi, married to Dan; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Art will be laid to rest at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery on March 16. Viewing begins at 11 a.m. with the funeral service at noon and a light lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Greenway Home Care LLC. For your convenience, you can send donations via Zelle to 623-332-0974.