Ethel Wilson Yungclas was reared on a farm near Cambridge, Iowa. She graduated from Cambridge High School where she was involved in a wide array of extracurricular activities. She attended Iowa State College and was one of very few individuals earning a Bachelor of Science in both Home Economics and Agriculture, so that she could be certified to teach in both subject areas in secondary schools. She received her degree in 1921, following a commencement address by Carrie Chapman Catt. At Iowa State she was a founding member of Sigma Kappa sorority and lettered in basketball. Following graduation she taught home economics and coached girls basketball at North Superior Consolidated Schools in northwest Iowa. After marrying William H. Yungclas of Webster City, Iowa, she was a farmer, homemaker, and community and church leader for many years in the rural Webster City area and in the state of Iowa.
She bore and reared eight children, two daughters and six sons, and was known as a person who gave willingly of her time and energy to others. Her contributions of time, energy, and loving concern not only included her family, friends and neighbors, but took the form of leadership in the Congregational Church (later United Church of Christ) of Webster City, founding board member of Mayflower Homes in Grinnell, Chapter JE P.E.O., Farm Bureau Women, 4-H Leader, Iowa Farm Records Association, and Order of Eastern Star. She gave many programs and wrote news articles on home management, especially for farm wives, in the 1920's-1950's. Her production and sales of cottage cheese helped make the farm mortgage payments during the depression years and keep the family farm operation solvent. She touched many lives with her high energy and loving spirit, and lived a life of dedication to God and humanity.
Honored by:
Husband: William Yungclas, Webster City, Iowa
Children:
Bruce, Don and Thomas Yungclas - all from Webster City, Iowa
Virginia M. Wold - Upland, California
Gretchen A. Forrester of Murphys, California
Kreg A. Yungclas - Denver, Colorado
William Yungclas - Ames, Iowa 7/1/96 |
