Rapid City – Lt. Col. (Ret) Robert "Bob" Charles Yirka, 90, died Saturday, July 22, 2023 at the Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village.

Bob was born in Chamberlain, SD to parents Henry Juroslav and Florence Alta (Small) Yirka. Bob's family moved to Rapid City from Murdo, SD in 1935, when he was three years old. Bob went to school in Rapid City and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1950.

He attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion SD from 1950 to 1952, leaving college to join the Air Force Cadet program in Houston, TX. He received his officer's commission in Houston in 1953, and his rating as a navigator. He later graduated from Syracuse University while stationed in Rome, NY.

On October 5, 1953, he married Barbara Ann Rouse, whom he had met as a freshman at USD. Together they had six children. Bob spent the next 27 years as an Air Force officer, and retired as Lt. Colonel from K. I. Sawyer AFB in 1979. He farmed for a year in Rock, MI before accepting the position of Financial Aid Director at Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba, MI.

After retirement from Bay de Noc in 1989, he and Barbara moved to Bob's home town of Rapid City, where he enjoyed renewing acquaintances with old friends, hunting and fishing, and enjoying many days on Pactola Lake on their pontoon Boat.

Bob is survived by his wife Barbara Yirka and his children: Ja'fr (Wati) Yirka of Frederick, MD, Kathy (Van) Wire of Mitchell, SD, Charles (Candace) Yirka of Woodbridge, VA, Trish (Leo) Kolaszewski of Oshkosh, WI, and Barb Yirka of Oshkosh, WI; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Mary Barraclough and Therese Crow and brothers: Jerry, Leo, and Bernie.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Monday, August 21 at Blessed Sacrament Church with Christian Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.

Burial will be at 2:00 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with full military honors by the Ellsworth Air Force Base 28th Bomb Wing Honor Team.

Bob retired from the United States Air Force with almost 27 years of military service as a Lieutenant Colonel.

His arrangements are with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.