Marilyn Yakel, 91, passed away peacefully at 7:50 p.m., on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in the Lutheran Care Center, Altamont, Effingham County, Illinois.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the Altamont First United Methodist Church, with Pastor Tonna Percival officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Private family burial will follow in Sidener Cemetery, rural St Elmo. Memorials may be made to Sidener Cemetery, Altamont First United Methodist Church, Lutheran Care Center or donor’s choice. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Marilyn Ross Miller was born on Monday, January 28, 1935 in rural Loudon Township, Fayette County, Illinois. She was the second child of Leonard Albert Miller and Regina Juanita (Bumgardner) Miller Brown. Marilyn often told the story that her parents were lucky the doctor was able to get to their home and deliver her on the 28th because the Kaskaskia River bottom flooded them in on the 29th. Her Miller ancestors moved to Fayette County in 1826. Her Bumgardner ancestors arrived in 1862.
Marilyn graduated from Brownstown High School in 1952 and married Charles Yakel on Sunday, April 5, 1953 in Avena, Fayette County, Illinois. A lifelong United Methodist, she attended the Methodist church in Avena while growing up, then in Brownstown after marriage, and most recently in Altamont. She and her husband were bookkeepers for several local businesses. She served as a partner in Willms and Yakel Insurance Agency in Vandalia after her husband’s death in 1991 until her retirement in 1998.
Survived by daughter Louella Christensen of Altamont, son Dan (Sandy) Yakel of Vandalia, granddaughter Elisa Yakel (Kyle Tate) of Brownstown and their children, sister-in-law Jan (Hanna) Miller of Florida, and many wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.
Preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Larry and Rev. Joe Miller, sister-in-law Wanda (Barrington) Miller and many other dearly missed family members.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.giesekingfh.com.
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