Died: Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Age: 72
Former Missouri Sen. Anita Yeckel, 72, of Sunset Hills, passed away peacefully Aug. 26 after a long illness.
Sen. Yeckel served south countys 1st Senate District from 1997 to 2004. She was chairwoman of the influential Senate Financial and Governmental Organization Committee.
Sen. Yeckels public service began in 1990, when she was elected to the Lindbergh Board of Education. She served the district for nine years, including terms as president and vice president.
Sen. Yeckels focus in the Missouri Senate was reform, as she sponsored and passed major changes to the states banking laws for the first time in decades.
As a result of the abnormalities of the 2000 election, Sen. Yeckel sponsored legislation that made sweeping reforms to Missouris election laws. On June 21, 2002, the election reform bill was signed into law, culminating a two-year joint effort by Sen. Yeckel and Secretary of State Matt Blunt in time for the 2002 elections.
She also successfully passed bills toughening Missouris methamphetamine laws.
Additionally, Sen. Yeckel sponsored legislation to protect senior citizens from skyrocketing increases in property taxes, to speed adoption of children statewide and to provide safeguards for children in foster homes.
She graduated from Mercy High School in St. Louis, attended St. Louis University and received her degree in political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
A banker by training, Sen. Yeckel suspended her career to raise her daughters, devoting most of her time to the girls, community, school and church activities. After participating in numerous school associations and activities, she became president of the St. Catherine Laboure school board.
Upon resuming her career, Sen. Yeckel worked with her husband, Bob, at the familys savings and loan company. In 1996, she chose to run for the 1st Senate district, a seat held by her good friend, Sen. Irene Treppler.
After her service in the Senate, she was appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt to the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners.
Sen. Yeckel was a member of the Bonhomme and Reagan Federation of Republican Women clubs and St. Justin the Martyr Catholic Church, where she served as a lector and eucharistic minister. She also volunteered in many capacities with various organizations, including the Lemay Child and Family Center and the St. Anthonys Medical Center Charitable Foundation.
Married for 51 years to Bob, the Yeckel family also includes daughters Jane (Jeff), Katie (Chris) and grandchildren Maggie, Max and Andrew.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Lemay Child and Family Center or the St. Anthonys Medical Center Charitable Foundation.