Claude I. "Yogi" Martin Jr.

Claude I. "Yogi" Martin Jr., age 70, of rural Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 8:40 pm on Sunday, July 27, 2014 at the Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth, Illinois. He was born on November 2, 1943 in Columbus, Georgia the son of Claude and Millie (Bridge) Martin. Yogi was raised in Rapetee, IL and graduated from Grand Valley High School with the class of 1961. After high school, he lived in the Victoria and Oneida IL area. On August 1, 1999, Yogi married Marjorie Mae Waugh and she is surviving. He attended the University of Illinois for a time. He began work at Gates Rubber in Galesburg and from 1968 to 2001 as a tool and die maker in manufacturing at Maytag in Galesburg. Yogi also farmed at the family farm in Oneida for many years. He enjoyed NASCAR and stock car racing in which he was involved in his younger years. Yogi is survived by his wife Marjorie, two daughters; Stacey Martin of Davenport, Iowa and Angie McMahill of Galesburg, Illinois, stepchildren; Rebecca Bell of Knoxville, Illinois and Harry (Angie) Waugh of Abingdon, Illinois, his grandson Mitchell Whitman of Malvern, Arkansas and seven other grandchildren, two sisters; Diana (Byron) Blair of Bloomington, Illinois and Carol (Rick) Koll of Wichita, Kansas, one brother; Charles Martin or Oneida, Illinois, three nephews and one niece. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services:A gathering of family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2014 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth. His family has established a memorial fund for the Western Illinois Animal Rescue.