James Leo Yokiel, 95, of Wells died Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at his home in Wells surrounded by his family following a stroke. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells with the Rev. Greg Havel officiating. The family will pray the Rosary at 9 a.m. Thursday and visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church Thursday. Burial will be in St. Casimir Cemetery in Wells. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence, visit brussheitner.com.

James Leo was born May 4, 1924, in Clark Township, Faribault County, the son of John and Mary (Sonnek) Yokiel. Jim was a graduate of Wells High School.

On Sept. 30, 1947, he was united in marriage to Janet Linder in Easton, and to this union seven children were born. Jim was a farmer all his life and was proud in 2014 when Faribault County designated the home place where he was born a Century Farm. He enjoyed trapping gophers, traveling with Janet, watching sports and doing his daily word search. Jim was a lifetime member of St. Casimir Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Jim is survived by his seven children, Norma (Doug) Schnoor of Orono, Joyce (Mike) Kollar of Bovey, Greg (Jean) Yokiel of Wells, Carleen (Jeff) Johnson of Owatonna, Orland Yokiel (Trudy Grunzke) of Wells, Juanita (Larry) Stenzel of Wells and Audrey (Tim) Stenzel of Kasson; 18 grandchildren, Sam (Lisa) Schnoor, Shelby Schnoor, Peter (Suzanne) Schnoor, James (Brenda) Kollar, Margaret (Jamie) Jax, Elizabeth (Michael) Lawson, Victoria (Robert) Nunez, Nick (Kristie) Yokiel, Andy (Jamie) Yokiel, Ryan (Andrea) Yokiel, Jessica Durand, Derek (Kim) Johnson, Erin (Marshall) Tatge, Angie Pierson, Darin Stenzel, Anthony (Katie) Stenzel, Mitchell Stenzel and Kendra Stenzel; and 24 great-grandchildren, Lauren and Kennedy Kollar, Jax, Jace Berndt and Connor Jax, Rory Ann and Beckett Lawson, Deklan and Kaelyn Yokiel, Brynley, Saydie and Chael Yokiel, Myley Yokiel, Regan Ihlenfeld, Gracyn and Calden Durand, Brecken, Andrew and Easton Johnson, Oliver Tatge, Jaycee and Wyatt Pierson, Quinn Stenzel, Peyton Stenzel and baby Stenzel on the way.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janet, in 2015; brothers Clement (Helen) Yokiel and John (Naomi) Yokiel; sisters Sister Lydia, CR, Sister Mary Therese, CR, Colette (Frank) Wanzek and Angela (Daniel) Chirpich; and in-laws Geraldine (Earl) Laitenberger, Evelyn (Walter) Strehlo and James (Marilyn) Linder.