IAP activist and local Vice-Chairman passes away

Merritt 'Ike' Yochum

by Cody Quirk

Independent American Party activist and frequent candidate, Merritt 'Ike' Yochum, passed away at 9:30 last night of cardiac arrest at a rehab center in Reno, after being released from the Veterans hospital following surgery to treat his esophagus cancer that he had been battling for the past year. 


He was preceded by his wife of 59 years, Rose Marie Yochum, who passed away on December 24th, 2008.


Janine Hansen, the Executive Director of the IAP and a close friend, has this to say of Ike:

"Ike has been a member of the party since the 1960’s.  He has been a good friend, a great candidate and was a good man.  He will be missed.  

I was so happy that I was able to give him a hug and a kiss goodbye as was Lynn Chapman. Dennis Grover also went to see him and Joel Hansen had a wonderful talk with him on the phone.  Now he will be helping Danny on the other side.   

Goodbye dear friend, We love you!"

Being the Carson City Central Committee IAP Chairman, Ike had previously served as the CCIAP Chair and was serving as my Vice Chair at the time. I am glad to have gotten to know him and his wonderful wife after moving up to Carson. 
Ike was a dedicated and loyal patriot to the IAP, his country, and to his friends and family. He also was a man of wit and charm; one of the most memorable conversations I had with him happened last year, when we were discussing the 2008 Presidential election-
"That wasn't a election, that was a stampede!" he had exclaimed.
"Stampede? What do you mean, Ike?" I asked him, puzzled.
"It was a stampede of Lemmings going over a cliff!" Ike responded. As funny as it was, at the same time, he was right on the mark.


I will greatly miss Ike, and still especially miss Rose as well. I know they are together again in Eternity. 


R.I.P. my fellow Independent American, you will be sorely missed!