Kearney community reflects on Michael Yanney’s legacy of giving
Friends and city officials reflect on the lasting impact of the businessman who brought Yanney Heritage Park to life.
By Peter Rice
KEARNEY, Neb. — The Kearney community is remembering hometown businessman and philanthropist Michael Yanney, who passed away over the weekend after battling heart issues for more than a year.
City leaders and longtime friends say Yanney’s impact on the community will be felt for generations — particularly through the creation of Yanney Heritage Park.
Mike, as friends and colleagues called him, first introduced the vision for the park in the late 1990s.
What was once an 80-acre cornfield would eventually become one of Kearney’s most recognizable public spaces, and was funded through private philanthropy and maintained by the City of Kearney.
Over nearly three decades, more than 20 million dollars in improvements were ultimately gifted to the city.
Longtime friend and founding Yanney Heritage Park board member Thomas Tye worked alongside Yanney from the beginning.
“When we started this in 1998, it was a flat cornfield. But Mike believed we could do something extraordinary here. He challenged us to aim higher and not compromise, and this park is the result of that.”
Tye said what mattered most to Yanney wasn’t recognition, but seeing families enjoy the space.
“What lit him up was seeing families out here — a father and son fishing, people having a picnic, kids running around. For him, it was always about the memories being created in this space.”
Kearney City Manager Brenda Jensen said Yanney’s leadership extended beyond philanthropy.
She described him as someone who consistently pushed city leaders.
"He always challenged us to think bigger and do more. Every meeting was about what’s next. He never wanted us to become complacent, it was always about how we could better serve the community,” said Jensen.
She added that Yanney strongly believed in public-private partnerships — using private fundraising to build something unique while ensuring the city would maintain it long-term.
“The legacy he leaves is that this park is going to serve generations. It’ll be here long after all of us are gone, and families will continue to make memories here for decades to come.”
Friends say while Yanney’s business accomplishments were significant, his greatest pride was giving back to the same community that helped him succeed.
Yanney still believed, even at 92 years old, that “the work is never done," a philosophy those closest to him say continues to guide the community he loved.