Donno Yarnell died May 3, 2021, at Magnolia Village in Bowling Green after a battle with congestive heart disease for several years and a debilitating stroke on Sept.16, 2020. He was the third son of Donno Dale and Olta Ora Yarnell. He was born Aug. 5, 1927 and raised in Sullivan, Ill/ on his family farm. Donno had to leave school at the age of 12 to work on the farm after the death of his mother. Even with that level of education he was one the smartest men you would ever meet with a quizzical mind and undying optimism.
Donno actively served in the United States Navy from Oct. 16, 1945 – Sept. 19, 1946 during WWII and then was a Sergeant in the Unites States Army from May 19, 1951 - April 28, 1954 during the Korean War. He also served in the United States Navy reserves for 5 years.
He met the love of his life on Halloween night, Oct. 31, 1951, Rosa Mae Devine whom he married a short time later on Feb. 9, 1952. A year later they had their only daughter, Donna Rose. He wrote a letter to his little girl-to-be from the army barracks and sent it to her with the name Donna Rose on it before she was born, and the rest is history.
Donno believed in hard work and responsibility to his family. This brought him to the Chicago area where jobs were available. He worked as a factory floor foreman for Bell and Gossett in Morton Grove, Ill. and then later with Timing Gears in Saint Charles, Ill. until he retired.
Retirement brought him and Rosa Mae to Lewisburg. Rosa Mae was brought up in Central City and Donno loved this area, so this is where they made their home for the last 25 years or more. He did his woodworking and craft shows after retirement and also was a favorite driver for the Amish Community. He never missed a year of planting an impressive garden he was eager to share with everyone. It was his pride and joy until last year, and he had Anna Mae and Eli Brenneman plant stuff he wanted on their farm. There was a special friendship and bond between him and the Amish Community and they were always there for each other.
Donno loved his daughter but his grandson stole his heart. Donna Rose married Lloyd Richard Zekucia in 1971 and had their only child, Donno Shane Zekucia, born on July 15, 1973. Due to Lloyd’s health issues, Shane relied on his grandfather and they were certainly two peas in a pod. The bond is unbreakable even in death and Shane is the man he is today because of his grandfather and the love they shared.
Donno was known for his woodworking and he enjoyed hours making wooden puzzles and games and more hours driving everyone crazy trying to figure them out. However, his pride and joy was the first place pinewood derby cars he made with Shane for four years straight.
He had a strong faith in God and lived a good but simple life helping people whenever he could, and he enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a humble man who touched the lives of more people than he realized. He met friends wherever he went and remembered as a kind and generous man with a great sense of humor.
He was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church in Lewisburg and his favorite part was leading the Teen Kids group at the church. He enjoyed working with these kids on spiritual lessons, crafts, games and being their mentor.
Donno leaves his wife Rosa Mae, daughter Donna Rose, grandson Donno Shane (Melissa) and his great grandsons, Ashton, Jackson, Ryan, and Hunter. He also leaves a foster daughter, Wendy Winnie (Danny) and their girls Makaila, Kennedy and Falon that still remain as family today.
He was preceded in eternal life by his parents, Donno Dale and Alta Ora Yarnell; his brothers Roy Lane, Eugene (Rusty); and his sister Lora Mae, and his foster daughter Gail Lee Mills.
A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Price Funeral Home, Inc., located at 252 E. Green Street, Lewisburg, KY 42256 with William Davis officiating.
Visitation will be held at Price Funeral Home, Inc. from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 6, and from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday.
The family asks that donations be made to Antioch Baptist Church in Lewisburg, which will be for the Teen Kids that Donno loved so much.
Due to current mandates set forth by the Governor of Kentucky, there is an occupancy limit of 75 inside the funeral home facility, not including funeral home staff or officiating clergy. It is also required that a mask be correctly worn at all times while inside the facility.