Clint Robert Yilek August 3, 1963 - December 22, 2024 It is

Clint Robert Yilek August 3, 1963 - December 22, 2024 It is with great sadness to announce that Clint Yilek, 61, passed away at his home in Albuquerque, NM on December 22, 2024. He was born in Jacksonville, NC on August 3, 1963. When he was a child his family lived in Minnesota, Georgia, Idaho, and northern California. When he was in the ninth grade, they moved to Orange County, CA. Living near the ocean, he became a skilled surfer, always chasing the highest, monster waves. After he graduated high school, his parents moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Clint decided to call the diverse landscapes of the "Land of Enchantment" his home. In 1984, Clint met his wife who shared his love of nature and animals. They moved to Albuquerque and wed on August 15, 1987, in a beautiful open sky ceremony below Sandia Peak, with beloved family and friends in attendance. Clint worked in landscaping, carpentry, and construction, entering the high-tech fiberoptics communications industry in 1990. In 2019 he went to work for APIC Solutions, where he enjoyed his co-workers and was enthusiastically dedicated to his job as Low Voltage Division Manager. Growing up he loved the great outdoors, a passion that continued throughout his life. As a wildlife enthusiast, he knew about myriads of animals and plants. He enjoyed hiking, camping, hunting, and just relaxing and soaking up the beauty in rugged and remote terrains, forested snowy mountains, and watching birds migrate in the Bosque. He especially liked fishing, whether it was fishing from the shore at Heron Lake, or from his boat at Elephant Butte, Santa Rosa, and Conchas Lakes in NM. He became a serious Bass Fisherman, competing in and winning multiple tournaments around the state. He also enjoyed travelling to lakes in other states, primarily Texas. Clint ardently watched various sports, including auto racing, golf, baseball, and in particular football. He was a fan of action movies, westerns, science fiction, and comedies. He had a keen interest in local, national, global news, current events, and politics, and was extremely knowledgeable about world, space, and US history. He loved listening to music of all kinds, from country and blues to rock and heavy metal. He was an excellent cook and frequently made superb meals which he took delight in sharing with family and friends. In 2000, he and his wife started a registered non-profit pet rescue that they ran from their home. He designed and built cozy kennels by hand for the dog's shelter, good-naturedly wearing his shirt screen-printed with "Unpaid Kennel Help." With the help of volunteers, they saved more than seven hundred dogs and twenty cats. Clint was predeceased by his maternal aunt Jone See, mother-in-law Joy Stoffels, and sister-in-law Carolyn Stoffels. He will be dearly missed by his loving wife Regina Leigh Yilek, wonderful parents Addie and Bruce Yilek, brother Mark and his children Ella and James, brother Rodney and his son Jake, uncle John Welch, uncle Phil See and cousins, paternal aunt Sally Van Erem, uncle Todd Yilek, father-in-law William "Bill" Stoffels, sister-in-law Sharon Stoffels, and his precious dogs Sunshine "Gemma" and Midnight "Goofyboy." In remembrance of Clint, donations to the Oliver Rigby Foundation, at oliverrigby.org, are welcomed. The details for celebrating Clint's life will be shared with family and friends. May He Rest in Peace.