William Yarbrough

William Arnold Yarbrough, known throughout his life as Bill, Babe, Daddy, and Grandpa, passed away peacefully from Lewy body dementia in the early morning hours of November 6, 2026, at the age of 74, comfortably surrounded by the people he loved most.

Visitation will be on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 1800-2000 at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Graveside Service will be on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 1300 at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Bill carried a little bit of the South with him wherever life took him. But if you ever asked him where home was, his answer was simple: home was wherever Iva was. For nearly 54 years, she was his home, his constant, and the love of his life. Together, they built a family and a lifetime of memories that will continue through the generations who loved him.

Bill leaves behind his beloved wife, Iva L. Yarbrough; daughter, Jessica O’Rear (Rob); son, Wayne Yarbrough and daughter-in-law Sara Yarbrough; and former son-in-law and friend, Rudy Rodriguez. He was a proud grandfather to eleven grandchildren, Alyssa (Angel), William (Jordan), Lucas (Kaylea), Wayne, Jacob, Bradley, Abigail, Noah, Hannah, Jonah, and Avianna. He was also blessed with four beautiful great-grandchildren, Grayson, Beckham, Violet, and Jett, with another little one eagerly anticipated in June. He is also survived by his baby sister, Sharlene Bass; and his beloved dog, Stella, who held a very special place in his heart.

He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Joseph Daniel; his brothers, Russell and Mike; his parents, Viola and Marion; and his cherished service dogs, Frankie and Libby.

Bill was a brilliant man with a wonderfully dry sense of humor and a mischievous streak that kept those around him on their toes. He was always ready for a good practical joke and had a way of delivering a perfectly timed comment with a straight face that made it all the funnier. He was often a quiet man, content to sit back and observe, but get him talking about his family or his days in Vietnam, and there was no shortage of stories. And what stories he had! He was a gifted storyteller, and his tales, particularly the legendary Chester Wehunt stories, will undoubtedly be retold for years to come. Those who knew him well know that some of those stories may even get a little better with every telling.

A hardworking family man, Bill found joy in the simple things. He loved animals, had an extraordinary green thumb, and took great pride in planting and growing things. One of his final projects was planting trees for each of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It was such a fitting expression of the man he was. Even as his own time here was growing shorter, he was planting things that would continue to grow long after him. Each tree will stand as a living reminder of his love, his family, and the roots he worked so hard to establish.

But Bill’s story cannot be told without honoring the soldier and survivor he was. He proudly served in the United States Army with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. On Friday, November 13, 1970, he was shot while serving in Vietnam. He survived, earning the Purple Heart for his sacrifice, but he often spoke of that day as the first day he died. He came home physically, but a part of his soul remained on that battlefield, a part that could never quite be replaced. The war was something he carried with him throughout his life, in ways both seen and unseen. His courage, sacrifice, and service will forever be honored, but he was so much more than the wounds he carried.

Bill will be remembered as a charming Southern gentleman with a Midwest heart. A man of quiet strength, sharp wit, deep love, and a lifetime of stories. He was a soldier, a survivor, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a brother, and a friend. He was a man who loved deeply, worked hard, and left his mark in ways that cannot be measured.

His hands may no longer plant trees, his voice may no longer tell stories, and his practical jokes may have finally come to an end, but his presence will remain in every tree planted in his honor, every family gathering where his stories are told, every laugh brought on by a memory, and every generation that carries a piece of him forward.

The trees will grow. The stories will live on. And wherever Iva is, a piece of Bill will always be home.

He was loved beyond words, and he will be missed beyond measure.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a Veterans service organization of your choice in Bill’s memory, in honor of his service and the sacrifices he made.

His family would like to extend a special thank you to our hospice nurse, Danielle aka “Sarge” and the dear staff of St. Croix Hospice.