John Yuhas

John Lawrence “Bubba” Yuhas had an inquisitive nature and an adventurous spirit that led him to experience things in his young life that most people never will. He was energetic and enjoyed the challenges and excitement found in the great outdoors. Although he was granted a short time on earth, John filled every day of his life with energy, life and love.

The decade that gave us MTV, “New Wave” and Nintendo was the same one that also gave us John. It was a fast paced period in our nation’s history, when trends changed from minute to minute and you never knew what computers were going to be able to do next. It was into these exciting times that John Lawrence was born on March 7, 1988, to John and DeDe Yuhas. Their tiny bundle of joy, however, arrived 7 weeks early at Bronson Hospital and spent his first 15 days in NICU. After which, he was happily welcomed home by his parents and big sister, Monica, who was exactly one year and one day older than him. John was named after his father and grandfather, and so not to get them all confused, his mom took to calling him “Bubba”, which means little brother. As he got older, his nickname became “Bub” or “Bubs” but by the time he was in junior high, he wanted to be called John. It was to no avail, however, his family just couldn’t part with his nickname and so he finally decided that “Bubs” wasn’t so bad.

Being so close in age, John and Monica were like two peas in a pod, but for their mom, it was like having twins. John took to calling his sister “Sissyca” - it was his way of affectionately saying she was his sis. He even considered Monica’s best friend Jamie as another sis calling her “Shaybeep”. As a young boy, John was very busy and curious. He had a knack of creating excitement in all sorts of situations, which wasn’t always a good thing. On one instance, his dad was putting some new shingles on the roof and while hammering away, he didn’t notice that three-year-old John had climbed the ladder with his own hammer and was nailing shingles on the peak of the roof. As he grew older, John poured this boundless energy into sports and played T-ball, under the coaching skills of his dad, and rocket football. He also spent two years learning Tae Kwon Do with his dad, and even won medals for sparing and forms in competition. By junior high, John was wrestling on the school team and racing RC cars at R&L Hobbies. This became quite a passion for him and he would hang out there on Saturdays to help out with the track and learn everything he could about how the cars worked.

John’s true passion for hockey came later when he was inspired by Firefighter Clay. He started on a rollerblade team and then moved to ice hockey. For five years, John played KOHA but spent his last year on the travel team. John loved the sport so much that he and his best friend Brad would spend countless hours playing NHL Hockey on his X-Box. It is perhaps an understatement to say that John was a huge Red Wings fan. He got the biggest thrill of his life when, through his friend Paul, John became the stick boy for the K-Wings in the middle of the 2003-2004 season. He put his heart and soul into this job and truly idolized the players. He knew them so well that he would order their food for after game snacks and would even wait at the arena doors for Jimmy Johns Sub Shop to deliver the food. His time spent behind the bench, taping sticks, filling water bottles and tossing towels to sweaty players was the happiest time of his life.

When not playing sports, John loved to be outdoors. He engaged in any activity to be outside, from cross-country skiing and riding on nature trails to snowmobiling and quad riding with his friend, Jimmer. John and his dad also loved to hike in the State Game area, and just recently while out together, John heard baying coyotes for the first time in response to sirens in the distant. Hunting was also something John liked and on his first bow hunting expedition, he was lucky enough to get his first deer.

John attended Waylee Elementary School, Portage Central Middle School and was currently a sophomore at Portage Central High School. John had a great outlook on life and was already making plans for his future. After graduating, he had great aspirations of joining the military to become a jet engine mechanic and ultimately work on F-16 fighter jets. His interest in this field was inspired by a close encounter with a jet and its mechanics while on one of his dad’s deployments at the CRTC base in Alpena one summer.

John was raised in the Catholic faith and his family was members of St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church, where he was baptized and confirmed. He was always active in church activities - as a past altar server, usher and enjoyed working with the doughnut crew after Mass. As children, he and his sister would play church, with John as the priest and Monica as the “altar princess.” His faith was always an important part of his life.

John was a good-hearted, generous soul. Not a day went by that he didn’t share his love with his family and friends. John was kid with an uncanny memory for details, and was considered a “gentle giant” by his family and friends. He will truly be missed.

John Lawrence “Bubba” Yuhas, age 16 of Portage, MI, died on Sunday, February 13, 2005. Members of John’s family include his parents: John and Deanna Yuhas; his loving sister, Monica, affectionately referred to as “Sissyca”, Yuhas; all of Portage, paternal grandfather, John J. Yuhas of Portage; his maternal grandparents, Ken and Marcia Flowers of Hillsdale; his aunts and uncles: Joyce and Kim Ross of Kalamazoo, Kevin and Shelly Flowers of Jonesville; his cousins: Philip and Linda Ross, Kenny and Zach Flowers; his beloved dog, “Fudd”; and many loving friends.

Learn more about John, view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends on Wednesday, February 16, from 6-8 p.m. at the RDMG Life Story Funeral Home, Portage Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 17, at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church. Please visit John’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either the Gryphon Place or a teen charity of your choice.