Earl Loren Yingst, Jr.

Earl Loren "Bub" Yingst, Jr., 62, of Robinson, IL, left this world unexpectedly on October 22, 2024. Born July 17, 1962, in Urbana, IL, he was the son of Earl Loren Yingst, Sr. and Loretta Jean (Miller) Yingst-Maddox. Bub grew up in Robinson, where he graduated from Robinson High School in 1980 before proudly serving in the National Guard and being called into active duty as a combat engineer. When he came back, he was stronger than ever—truly a force to be reckoned with, eventually holding the Illinois bench press record at 640 lbs. He never walked away from a bench press competition without a first-place finish, and everyone who saw him knew they were witnessing something incredible.

Bub was intimidating in his strength but had a humor that made anyone feel like they were his friend. He worked for a decade at the Robinson Correctional Center and later at a series of Best One Tire shops. Wherever Bub went, he was bound to make an impression—often stopping multiple times on a trip to Wal-Mart just to chat with old friends and even those he barely knew.

Bub loved life simple and full of laughs. He didn't need much beyond his family, a can of Skoal at hand, and his TV—TV Land was always on, and he counted "Everybody Loves Raymond" or musical audition shows like American Idol as some of his favorite programs. He loved classic rock just as much as country, from AC/DC to Toby Keith, and he'd spend hours enjoying music from across a wide spectrum. A competitive lover of sport, he could bowl with the best of them, and he'd happily sit down for a football game—he was a lifelong Raiders fan until his son Robbie got him cheering for the Cowboys. If it wasn't football, it was NASCAR, with Kenny Schrader as his favorite driver.

Bub enjoyed hunting, and he especially loved fishing, whether it was at the Goodwine pond in Flat Rock or out at the Wabash River with his dad. And after a day on the water, nothing made him happier than cleaning the fish with his kids and enjoying the fruits of his labor. Anyone who knew the man could attest to the fact that he could put away food. If you saw Bub and Robbie walk through the door of a buffet, you knew the restaurant was about to be in the red! He had a sweet spot for Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper, solidifying his reputation as a "pop-a-holic."

He was a simple man who loved hard and laughed even harder. He could make anyone chuckle, often at his own expense, because if something went wrong, it was probably happening to Bub. He didn't know a stranger, and he created countless memories that shaped his family, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, strength, and love.

Bub is survived by his children, Amanda & Ronnie Harrington (Flat Rock, IL), Robbie Yingst (Robinson, IL), and Misty (Maxey) Tracy (Maineville, OH), as well as several step-children and his beloved grandchildren, Gunnar Shidler, Colten Shidler, Cash Shidler, Charlotte Yingst, and Victoria Yingst. He also leaves behind his mother, Loretta Maddox (Ottawa, IL); his brothers, Lonnie & Nicole Yingst (Geneva, IL), and Kevin Yingst (Centralia, IL); his sister, Lori & Steve Johnson (Ottawa, IL); and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Loren Yingst, Sr.; his step-mother, Gladys Yingst; his infant brother, Sebastian David Yingst; and his grandparents, Leo & Freida Miller and Earl & Beulah Yingst.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29th, at the Robinson New Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the combined units of the U.S. Army, the Robinson V.F.W. Post #4549, the Robinson American Legion Post #69, and the Flat Rock American Legion Post #132. Celebrant Curt Goodwine will officiate the service. Memorial contributions may be made to help his family offset costs, and checks may be made payable to his daughter, "Amanda Harrington". The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is in charge of arrangements.