IN MEJMORIAM, FRANK YAIINKE. 1 25 



earnest, kind-hearted and helpful man of undaunted courage and 

 perseverance that carried him over all obstacles. Aside from the 

 phases of his life touched upon therein, there is to be spoken of the 

 active and efficient service that he rendered to the public of his 

 adopted state through his connection with the State Horticultural 

 Society and the Farmers Institute. Mr. Yahnke was not a person 

 to put himself forward but was ever ready for any useful service 

 when called upon. It was by accident almost that the writer came 

 lo know Mr. Yahnke personally as a worker. In a circular letter 

 to which he had replied, it was noted that he had had experience 

 in growing currants, and as that was a subject which at that time 

 we wanted presented at the annual meeting we wrote to 

 Mr. Yahnke, without a personal knowledge of him, asking if he 

 would prepare such a paper. He readily acquiesced, as was always 

 his wont when asked to help in any way, and the result was his 

 first appearance at the meeting of the Horticultural Society in 

 Dec, 1898. From that time until the date of his death Mr. Yahnke 

 was one of the most useful and popular members of the Horticul- 

 tural Society. The year following, 1899, he went as a delegate of 

 this society to the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Society, taking 

 part in the memorial services for the late J. C. Plumb, who is 

 spoken of earlier in this sketch. Those who heard him gave him 

 high honor for the very touching and faithful way in which he 

 portrayed the character and the life of his departed friend. In 

 1903, at the earnest request of the officers of this society, Mr. 

 Yahnke commenced his notable work with the Farmers Institute, 

 lecturing throughout the state with the institute corps for three 

 years. This work brought him in touch with immense numbers 

 of the citizens of the state, who remember him for his earnest and 

 kindly words and the uniformly pleasing way in which he presented 

 his subject. Mr. Yahnke was not able to go out with the institute 

 corps the past winter. 



The writer met him the last time at the late state fair, when 

 he was in a sense already stricken with the disease which finally 

 resulted in his death. We hoped at that time that he would be up 

 again to take up the winter's work with the institute, but it was to be 

 other\yise, and Mr. Yahnke's work with the society and upon the 

 platform was at an end. We are saddened to say the parting words 

 to so useful a man, so loyal and true a friend. The Horticultural So- 

 ciety honored him by making him a member of the Executive Board 

 in 1904, probably the only person elected to this board whose pre- 

 vious connection with the society was of so brief a period. He still 

 occupied this position at the time of his death, having been re-elected 

 at the last annual meeting — and at the same meeting, by a unanimous 

 vote of the society, he was made an honorary life member. No 

 member of our association has a more enviable record than this dear 

 departed one. 



