Obituary of William Yerkes

William "Swede" Wallace Yerkes, Jr. (age 83) of Sicklerville, NJ, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 24, 2022. Swede grew up in Gloucester City and graduated from GHS in 1956. After high school, he attended Juniata College and went on to serve in the Army National Guard at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. On June 6, 1959, Swede married his high school sweetheart, Ginny Lane, and soon-after became a devoted father of three. Working as an accountant for most of his life, he started his career at Campbell Soup Company and eventually went on to work for Jersey Fruit Co-op for most of his working years. He was an active member of his church and sought to serve and honor the Lord in many ways. He also served on the Gloucester City Board of Education. A lover of the arts (especially culinary arts), Swede was a "foodie" long before the term was invented. His friends and family will remember him for his faithfulness to the church, love of food, contagious laugh and his ever-present joyful smile. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Virginia (Lane); children, Susan (Glenn) Clune, Tracy (Dan) Duffield, William W. (Tina); grandchildren, Steven (Stefani) Clune, Kevin (Krista) Clune, Heather (Dan) Ritchie, Dan (Kristin) Duffield Jr., Emily (Bryan Fluck), Madelyn, and Andrew Yerkes; Sister, Irma Elwell; Goddaughter, Bonnie Kulesa; cherished great-grandchildren, Gwenyth, Shepard, Wallace, Lavinia, Jameson, Jaxon and Finley; and many endeared nieces and nephews. Friends may greet the family on Sunday, August 7, 2022, from 2-4 pm in St. John's United Methodist Church, 149 Ganttown Rd., Turnersville, NJ 08012. A Memorial service will begin at 4pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church Memorial Fund at the address above or Samaritan Hospice at https://samaritannj.org/giving. Memories may be shared at www.kelleyfhpitman.com»(Do not delete this line. It does not print. Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)