Scottsbluff Star Hearld Scottsbluff, NE 11 Apr 2007 WORLAND, Wyo. - Jake L. Yakel, 82, passed away at his home in Worland following a brief struggle with cancer. Cremation will take place, and a memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 14, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Worland with Rev. Steve Couch officiating. A memorial in his name has been established for a fund yet to be named. Contributions may be sent to the Pinnacle Bank at P. O. Box 789 - Worland, WY 82401. Veile Mortuary of Worland is assisting the family with the arrangements. He was born Sept. 23, 1924, in Scottsbluff a son of Jacob and Mary (Kaiser) Yakel. He was raised and educated in Scottsbluff. Following his education he farmed for a few years before becoming a truck driver, hauling coal and corn from Wyoming. He then worked for Curry Chemical Co., an agricultural chemical and fertilizer firm, in Scottsbluff. Jake married Ruby I. Specht Jan. 26, 1947, in Scottsbluff. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January. In 1954 Curry Chemical transferred him to Worland. He later bought the company and operated it as PureGro for many years. He eventually sold it to Simplot, and then retired in 1992. Jake enjoyed traveling to visit with his family, especially with his grandchildren. He enjoyed walking, and usually stopped to visit with his friends at the local coffee shops. He was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Worland. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Yakel of Worland; daughter, Brenda (Del) Jacober of Covington, Wash.; daughter-in-law, Jane Yakel of Blacksburg, Va.; grandchildren, Cindi Battram of Puyallup, Wash., Kevin Jacober of Seattle, Wash., Demian Yakel of Blacksburg, Va., Jonah Yakel of Tucson, Ariz., and Stefan Yakel of New Orleans, La.; and six great-grandchildren; brother, Dick Yakel of Scottsbluff; sisters, Katherine Welch, Katie Zier, Caroline Rexus, Rose (Paul) Bolzer, Florence Rau, Irene Loose, Alvina Kufeldt, and Norma (Don) Green all of Scottsbluff. Preceding him in death was his son Randy Yakel in 1997, a brother and four sisters.