Name: Visitation
Start: 08/16/2024 01:00 PM
End: 08/16/2024 02:45 PM
Location: Phillip Funeral Home

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Myron

Yttri

July 4, 1937 – August 6, 2024

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Obituary

Myron "Mike" Willard Yttri, age 87, passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at his country home in Jackson, WI where he had lived for the past 57 years, the same home that he built and assisted in raising his 6 children. Mike was born on July 4, 1937 in Ferryville, WI to Lyle and Wanda (nee Copus) Yttri and graduated high school in 1958.

Mike will be remembered as a talented and hardworking man who loved his family, faith, music and his country.

Mike proudly served his country enlisting December 2, 1955 in the U.S. Army Sp4 E4 (T), stationed in Italy, as a decorated sharpshooter, company clerk and mechanic with an Honorable discharge November 28, 1958.

Mike was an active member at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church for 57 years. Over the years, he also took pleasure in caring for his church and school a school bus driver, custodian and currently groundskeeper.

Throughout his lifetime Mike held many different jobs and positions. His dedication and commitment to his work set him apart as a true leader. Early on he was employed with Snyder Mold, Leeson Electric, Hovercraft and Milsco, where he helped design Harley Davidson Motorcycle seats.

Because of his strong entrepreneurial spirit and the fact that he could do anything he put his mind to, he also owned and operated many of his own businesses including "M&Y Excavation" with his brother-in-law, Lloyd Mondor, the "Y's Guys" DJ service with his eldest son, Michael and starting in the early 1960s his polka bands, some of which were "The Polka Kings", "The Mike Yttri Orchestra" and most recently "Mike Yttri & the Music Mates". During that time, he also recorded numerous albums/singles and held the copyrights for 2 songs he wrote. Mike proudly held the office of the first President of the Wisconsin Polka Boosters. In approximately 1970, he started "Cedarburg Upholstery" and "Slinger Upholstery" and was still taking on smaller jobs right up until the time of his passing. Some of his other jobs included real estate, radio DJ at WTKM in Hartford, product sales and landlord.

Mike loved sharing his knowledge and skills with others and in doing so made a positive impact on the lives of many. He taught guitar lessons, taught upholstery and industrial sewing through MPTC, was a Polish Hop dance teacher with his first wife, Shirley, and also a DNR Hunter's Safety instructor.

In his "spare" time he was an advisor for the West Bend High Schools' "America's Pride Team" (anti-drug and alcohol awareness group). He also co-managed several "Grand Old Opry" country music shows where he performed as "Grandpa Jones" as well as other roles.

Besides spending time with his family, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, splitting wood, target shooting, going 'up north' and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Mike is survived by his 6 children, Dawn (Dawn Morgan) Brace, Lisa (Ken) Sharbuno, Michael (Karen), Jonathan (Tiffany), Timothy (Andrea) and Nathaniel (Katie) Yttri; 12 grandchildren, Adam (Joelle) and Austin Brace, Sarah (Kelly) Horne, Micah, Malachi and Matthias Yttri, RJ Kultgen and Kaylie Yttri, Lyle, Henry, Elliot and Walter Yttri; 2 great-granddaughters, Huntley Jo Brace and Lena Grace Horne; brother Jerry Yttri; mothers of his children, Shirley Miranda, Rosann Millonzi and Janet Yttri and special friend, Gigi Butrick. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Wanda; siblings, Madeline Jankowski, Lyla Comstock Watts, Anita Knutson, Terry Yttri and infant sisters, Cheryl Yttri and Eileen Yttri.

A Funeral Celebration will be in its entirety on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church (1268 Pleasant Valley Rd. West Bend, WI 53095). The family will greet guests from 1:00pm until 2:45pm, service at 3:00pm, burial with full military honors will immediately follow the service at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Please join us for a reception afterwards.

A special thank you to everyone who has an impact on our dad's life, the amazing Doctors and staff at Ascension Wisconsin who took such great care of him over the past few years. A heartfelt thank you to Courtney and the staff of Phillip Funeral Home.

Dad,

The next time that we meet you will be at Heaven's door.

You'll be there to greet us and we will cry no more.

We'll put our arms around you and kiss your handsome face

And then these broken hearts of ours will fall back into place.

Love Always and Forever

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