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UNO Mourns the Passing of Michael B. Yanney

Yanney, an Omaha business leader and philanthropist, passed away Feb. 14 at age 92.

  • published: 2026/02/16
  • contact: Sam Peshek - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Michael B. Yanney converses with an event attendee

Michael B. Yanney attends a Medical Humanities event in the Buffett Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska, Thursday, August 8, 2019. Photo: Rich Watson, UNMC

Read the University of Nebraska Foundation’s statement

Michael B. Yanney, Burlington Capital founder and longtime philanthropic supporter of the University of Nebraska, passed away Saturday, Feb. 14, at the age of 92.

“Michael Yanney believed in lifting others as he climbed, and he lived that belief every day. His life was a powerful testament to paying it forward. He showed Omaha, Nebraska, and the world that determination and selfless service can uplift entire communities,” UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, said. “Because of his generosity and unwavering commitment to others, our university and our city will benefit for generations to come. His legacy challenges all of us to lead with purpose, serve with humility, and invest in people.”

Yanney, a Kearney native and graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney (then-Kearney State College), held leadership roles in Omaha banks and financial institutions before founding Burlington Capital in 1984.

Yanney and his wife Dr. Gail Walling Yanney contributed to or led numerous philanthropic initiatives across Nebraska and the University of Nebraska System. At UNO, Yanney supported initiatives in the School of Music, Omaha Athletics, and established the Randolph A. Walling, Sr., Scholarship Fund in the College of Information Science & Technology.

In 2017, the Yanneys received honorary Doctors of Humane Letters during UNO commencement ceremonies.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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