Colfax – Chella Yeakel, 73, of Colfax, passed away at 6:43 pm, September 5, 2024, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

Cremation has been accorded.

Her memorial service will be  held at 10:00am, Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax. Ted Gee will be officiating. Burial will be in Wiley Cemetery, Colfax, where military honors will be performed.

Visitation will be held from 5-7:00pm, Friday, September 13, 2024, also at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Davis-Kerber American Legion, Post 653 or Colfax United Methodist Church.

Chella was born March 15, 1951, in Bloomington, the daughter of Eldon "Ike" and Jean (Jensen) Lain. She married Alan Yeakel on May 1, 1976. He survives.

Also surviving are her sons, John (Noelle) Yeakel of Bethany and Aaron (Amanda) Yeakel of Colfax; grandchildren, Eldon and Seth Yeakel and James and Mia Yeakel; sister-in-law, Cathy Lain of Bloomington and numerous nieces and nephews.

Chella was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Vietnam War.

She retired from the Payroll Department at Illinois State University.

Chella was a member of the Colfax United Methodist Church. She was the first woman commander for the Davis-Kerber American Legion Post, 17th District of the American Legion and the 4th Division of the American Legion. She also was the past chair of the POW-MIA Committee.