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Fulfilling God’s plan for him, Michael passed through death into a new and better world on Wednesday September 17, 2014. He was born June 16, 1934 in Youngstown, to the late Michael and Elizabeth G. (Popson) Yacko.
He believed that one should earn his way through life, and as a young boy in grade school, he had a paper route and delivered the local newspaper to his west side neighbors. In his teens, he was a 1952 graduate from Chaney high school and managed his studies and participated in high school sports program, where he excelled as a football player. He received a letter of intent from Frank Leahy to play football at the University of Notre Dame. He also had a part time job at the neighboring century food store as a stock boy in his spare time. His friends called him “Yak”.
In 1954, he enlisted and became a soldier, serving the United States Army and was a member of the Signal Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1956. When he returned home, he married the girl he had left behind and became the husband of Elizabeth (Bak) Yacko. They recently marked their 57th wedding anniversary. He worked for the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company Steel Mill and attended trade school and became an electrician, until the plant closed in 1969. He became employed by General Motors and worked at the Fisher Body Fabrication Plant in Lordstown. In 1990, he participated in the Suggestion Awards Program at GM and received the maximum benefit awarded for his suggestion of his idea that saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company that manufactured the system also adopted his suggestion. Michael then retired after 30 years of service as a Senior Electrical Engineer in the Maintenance Department in March of 2000.
During the years, between marriage and retirement, the family relocated from Youngstown, to Austintown, where the family became complete with three beloved sons. Their sons gave their father a time to relive his youth in all the things “boys do.” A few years after retirement, Michael and Elizabeth moved to Medina to be closer to family.
There were many things Michael loved about his life, besides family. He was partial to the Cleveland Indians baseball team and also to Ohio State football. While living in Austintown, he was a member of Saint Mary’s BCC and was a member of the “Elite Gratis Construction Company” which was a group of skilled parishioners who donated their time and talent to build the beautiful Assumption Social Center on S. Belle Vista Ave., in Youngstown. In his earlier years there, he also enjoyed being a Scout Master for his sons in Boy Scout Troop 142. Michael loved to hunt and fish, but was especially partial to playing golf, where he liked an early tee time and liked a cold beer afterwards at the 19th hole, where he liked to brag about his shots, especially his hole in one. He also loved to work with wood, the sound of hammering and sawing was a familiar sound to the neighborhood. He built treasured pieces for inside the home but his biggest accomplishment was when he designed and built a split level deck with a gazebo off to the side. He also loved to just remodel. He loved family vacations, especially the ones on the house boats and also trips with special friends. While visiting his son in Arizona, they would take side trips and he got to see the most beautiful and awesome places. He was artistic in nature and he could take a pencil and draw a caricature usually of someone in the family with a fitting caption. He was an avid reader of all kinds of books, but did favor some authors and read all of their novels. When he received a Kindle as a gift it became like an appendage. He so loved reading that he built the first “Little Free Library” in Medina and was featured in The Post Newspaper. He enjoyed watching people come to find books, especially the children who impatiently waited while their parents chose a selection for them.
Michael played many roles in his life, besides being an uncle, a godfather and a good friend to many, he was first a beloved son and brother.
Michael is preceded in death by his beloved son, David; both of his parents; his brother, Thomas (Mary Jo) Yacko, and sister, Mary Lou (Dan) Stahura.
But the most endearing family that he left behind were his beloved wife; his son, Dr. Robert (Gina) Yacko DDS of Arizona, his son Mark (Michelle) Yacko of Brunswick. He was a proud and loving Papa to his grandchildren. Sarah Yacko (serving in the U.S Navy), Nicole (Dennis Haessly) Yacko, Morgan Yacko, Joshua Yacko (of Arizona), and his great- grandchild, Stella Rose Haessly “little rosebud”, who brought him the utmost joy in the time that they had together.
Calling hours will be Sunday, September 21, 2014, from 2 until 6 P.M., at Waite & Son Funeral Home, 765 N. Court St. Medina. There will be a Parastas (wake service) at 5 P.M., that evening. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 22, 2014, 11 A.M., at St. Emilian Byzantine Catholic Church, 1231 Substation Rd., Brunswick, OH 44212. After the service Monday, there will be a luncheon at the church hall. Respecting Michael’s wishes of cremation, a private Inurnment, where he will be laid to rest with his son, at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Youngstown, will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Cleveland Clinic Hospice, 6801 Brecksville Rd., Suite 10, Independence, OH 44131, to Saint Emilian Church Building Fund, address above, or to Saint Mary’s Cemetery Chapel Fund, 356 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509.
Arrangements by Waite and Son Funeral Home, Medina. Online condolences may be left at www.waitefuneralhome.com
The post Micael Yacko appeared first on The Medina County Gazette.
Robert A. “Bob” Weber, 73, a longtime resident of Medina, peacefully passed away at his home Sunday, September 14, 2014. He was born in Cleveland, to Karl and Pauline Weber.
