John Poulos

John Peter Poulos, best known as Yonnie, fought a courageous battle with a rare cancer that claimed his life too early on Dec. 31, 2012. Yonnie was born on December 4, 1965 in Muskegon, MI. Moving to Ann Arbor at age four, Yonnie attended Pattengill, Tappan Junior High, and graduated in 1984 from Pioneer High School. Yonnie excelled at any sport he involved himself in. There wasn’t any sport he wasn’t willing to try, beginning with gymnastics at age four, playing little league baseball every summer as catcher, and excelling as goalie on school soccer teams and indoor soccer leagues. Summers were filled with kickball games in the driveway, bike riding, swimming at Buhr Park and Silver Lake, rock collecting along the Huron River, and going to the movies at Wayside. Hockey, making snow forts, and sledding on the hill behind the house were things Yonnie loved doing in the winter. Yonnie was never one to be bored because he could always find something fun to do.

Yonnie’s favorite sport above all had to be soccer. He was a natural as goalie, and he would do anything to stop that ball from getting into his goal. As the star goalie on Pioneer’s soccer team for three years, he earned all state honorable mention during his senior year. After graduating in 1984, Yonnie’s desire to play soccer followed him to Eastern Michigan University. Yonnie was a walk on for EMU’s soccer team his freshman year and made the team as their first string goalie. A major injury occurred early in the season and sidelined Yonnie not only for the rest of the season, but the rest of his career.

Yonnie enjoyed watching sports almost as much as playing them. With Michigan sports all around, Yonnie would go to all of the major games, football, hockey, basketball, and baseball. Yonnie and his brother created a siren helmet just for the Michigan hockey games, that they painted maize and blue, and every time there was a goal, they would turn the siren on. Yonnie loved wearing that helmet. His favorite professional football team growing up was the Washington Redskins, and at Sunoco one year, they offered a collector football sticker book that you could fill with stickers of football players, it was then that Yonnie found his love for collecting sports cards. Throughout the rest of his life, Yonnie was very knowledgeable about sports cards, and enjoyed the collection he had made for himself. Not only was Yonnie a collector of sports cards, he also loved collecting coins, antiques, and anything that was unusual. He had what he called a “clown bike” that was an antique bike with one very large front wheel, and a small back wheel. Yonnie would ride it in many parades in Belleville when he lived there.

Family was always important to Yonnie as well as community. He attended Sunday School at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and played on the church’s basketball team. Very proud of his Greek heritage, Yonnie was so happy when his Father took him to Greece. Yonnie traveled around Greece, seeing the small village where his Father grew up, and enjoying the company of his relatives. He cherished that special time with his Father. The country life both in Greece and where his Mother grew up appealed to Yonnie, and any chance he had he loved being outside, preferably in the country. There were many family get togethers in the backyard of his childhood home, and it was filled with laughter, love, and good food. Yonnie loved to help grill up pork chops and steak for the family.

Yonnie found an enjoyment of working on cars while in high school. He bought a 1967 Mustang to work on in auto shop, and started working part time at car dealerships. Yonnie was also a big help at his Father’s restaurant, and was always willing to lend a hand. Then he got a job at Edwards Brothers where he was involved with book publishing. Yonnie really enjoyed his years there. After moving to Battle Creek, Yonnie worked at Employment Group, Manpower, and lastly at Flex N Gate. He made friends wherever he went, and was happy to have met so many great people.

The happiest time of Yonnie’s life was when his only son, John Peter II, was born. Over the years Yonnie enjoyed a great many things with his son, teaching him anything he knew. Being involved with sports, riding bikes, fishing, collecting rocks, and just spending time with his son made Yonnie happy. He was so very proud to be John’s Father.

At the end of 2001, Yonnie met someone who would become the love of his life, Shirley Benton. They were together for eleven years, and enjoyed gardening, motorcycles, going to the local casino, and their “kids”, the cats - Demo, Spaz, Tango, Cash, and Koukla, their dog that was given to them by Yonnie’s Mother.

Yonnie was a “hands on guy” who loved involving himself in so many activities, and getting his hands dirty. He had such a big heart and was always willing to help others out, especially when it came to physical work. Many will remember Yonnie as an amazing dancer who could dance like no other. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile that could warm anyone’s heart. Yonnie’s sense of humor could get a whole room laughing, and how he loved to make others laugh. His best imitation was that of Rocky Balboa, but he could imitate just about anyone.

Yonnie was preceded in death by his mother, Charlene K. Poulos. He leaves behind his son, John Peter Poulos II, his loving partner, Shirley Benton, his Father, Peter G. Poulos, his sisters Theophany, Julie, and Athena, and his brother George, and many nieces and nephews. We will keep Yonnie alive in our hearts forever.

Visitation is on Sunday, January 6, 2013 from 3:00pm – 8:00pm. At Muehlig Funeral Chapel with the Trisagion Service performed by Reverend Father Nicolaos H. Kotsis. The funeral is Monday, January 7, 2013 at 11:00 am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 or The John Poulos Memorial Fund c/o Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 South Fourth Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104