Thomas Roy Yakonich

It is with fondness and respect that we remember Thomas Roy Yakonich. Tom slipped away peacefully at his home in Livonia, Michigan, on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the age of 85. Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on May 14, 1939, Tom was the son of the late Roy and Helen Yakonich. He was predeceased by his brother George and is survived by his sister Mary (George). Tom married Linda Mae Deisinger and shared over 56 years together, building a loving family in the Livonia home where they lived for more than five decades and raised their three children: David, Lana, and Brian. Tom was the proud grandfather of ten grandchildren: Cole, Andrew, Max, Hudson, and Claire (David and Allison's children); and Liberty, Justice, Christian, River, and Phoenix (Lana and Michael's children). A true pioneer in the early days of computing, Tom dedicated his entire professional life, spanning over 40 years, as a computer systems analyst for the same company before retiring in 2009. He possessed remarkable patience, meticulously untangling the toughest technical challenges. Despite his love for technology, he remained loyal to his classic flip phone, though he fully embraced his iPad for keeping up with emails, enjoying Marco Polos from his children, watching TED Talks, and exploring Great Courses. Tom was the cornerstone of his growing household, handling most of the shopping and preparing evening meals with the same attention to detail he brought to his professional life. In his younger years, he played hockey in an Over 30 league well into his 60s, with his children frequently cheering from the stands in those early days. He found great satisfaction in maintaining his yard, riding his tractor lawnmower into his early 80s. A lifelong learner, Tom could often be found engrossed in thick technical books, studying topics like Large Language Models and cybersecurity certifications long after retirement. He cherished his routines: watching his TV friends Kelly and Mark in the morning, recording the evening news to bypass commercials, and following Sunday morning political shows while Linda attended church. A fan of Costco, he enjoyed navigating the aisles on the scooter to snag the latest deals. His love for graph paper was legendary, using it daily to carefully document his vital records. Before a fall last year curtailed his outings, he had a regular circuit of local restaurants for coffee (black, little cream), a breakfast sandwich, and a cover-to-cover read of the Detroit newspapers and the Wall Street Journal. Tom became the unofficial neighborhood tech support, readily helping neighbors reset passwords or fix printers, happily accepting payment in cookies. After his fall, he even found a certain joy in riding his stair climber. Nothing brought Tom more joy than time spent with his family. Though not an enthusiastic traveler, Tom and Linda co-hosted many family reunions, traveling west with their son Brian to ensure the family bonds remained strong. He enjoyed when his son David and daughter Lana would visit Michigan and bring a grandchild with them and for special visits with dinners at the local restaurants and cider mills nearby. Known for his dry, sarcastic sense of humor, love of jazz music, and a knack for gentle teasing, Tom’s quiet presence and steadfast routines were a comfort. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests honoring Tom's memory by helping an elderly neighbor with their computer problems, enjoying a leisurely ride on a lawn tractor, or simply savoring a cup of black coffee with a little cream while reading a newspaper – cover to cover, of course. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, children, grandchildren, sister, and all who knew him. Visitation Friday, April 25th from 1:30 PM until 8 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West (between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery in Dexter. To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Thomas Roy Yakonich

May 14, 1939 - April 20, 2025