Joshua L. Yee

His family and friends did everything possible to help him feel love and find comfort and peace in his final hours.

Joshua was born in Amherst, Ohio, on January 31, 1983. It was in his hometown that he developed relationships that would last throughout and beyond his lifetime, including with the love of his life, Jennifer Peters, whom he married and loved for more than 15 years.

To know Joshua was to know his laughter—boisterous, contagious, and often accompanied by an endearing giggle that made it impossible not to smile. Joshua’s ability to make people laugh drew people into his orbit, even as they couldn't help but roll their eyes at his seemingly endless supply of Dad jokes.

Joshua's charm and character made him a natural leader from an early age. He managed Marco's Pizzas and hotels across three different chains before turning his dedication to taking care of people towards the complexities of the service industry at J.P. Morgan Chase and Klarna. Whatever the job, Joshua had a genuine ability to connect with people and make them feel cared for.

Joshua loved listening to music and going to concerts: The Beatles, Tom Petty, and Ryan Adams were among the soundtracks to his life. He seemingly knew the lyrics to every hip-hop song from the 1990s and had a particular talent for inserting “Yee” into almost any song he sang aloud: “All Yee Need Is Love,” “R-E-S-P-YEE-C-T”, and countless others that will never sound quite the same again. His groovy dance moves were legendary and could turn any backyard, patio, or room in a house into the best party you ever attended—even if it was just Joshua and one other person.

Joshua loved his friends and family deeply and was fiercely protective of the people he loved. His door and his kitchen were always open, and guests were often treated to a batch of his legendary rice and beans. He had a gift for making people feel welcome, and his home was a place where people knew they could always show up.

Joshua was endlessly devoted to his daughter, Julianna, the passion of his life, and relished his role as the supreme Girl Dad. Together they attended Father-Daughter Dances, made a family tradition of attending The Nutcracker during the holidays, and enjoyed musicals such as Wicked. The joy he took in being her father was evident to everyone around him.

Joshua and Jennifer also shared a love of travel, including their wedding on the Mediterranean Sea. They passed that passion on to Julianna, spending annual family vacations together in Aruba and continuing their adventures in recent years with regular trips to Indian Lake in Cuba, Missouri, and Marco Island, Florida. They also explored new destinations together, including New York City, Niagara Falls, and the Grand Canyon.

Joshua is preceded in death by his grandmother, Judith Lee Pilarsh, and dear friend, Brian Vura. Joshua is survived by his wife, Jennifer Yee; his daughter and the passion of his life, Julianna Yee; mother, Fay Yee; father, Terrance Q. (Sandy) Yee; brothers Terrance (Melanie) Yee; and Jeremy (April) Yee; sister, Cortney Carter; stepbrothers, Chuckie and Jimmy Moore; many nieces and nephews; and a group of special best friends who were brothers to him: Ben Gradisek, Danny Lopez, Joe Mischik, and Tom O’Hara.

Joshua leaves behind more than memories. He leaves behind the stories people will tell, the traditions he created with family and friends, the laughter that could fill a room, and the countless people who were fortunate enough to feel his profound love. His laughter, his dancing, his jokes, his love, and his unmistakable ability to make any gathering more fun will live on forever with everyone who knew him.

Joshua will be deeply loved, deeply missed, and remembered always.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Schoedinger Northeast Chapel, 1051 East Johnstown Road, where family will receive friends following the service until 4:00 p.m.

Those who wish may contribute to The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, 4601 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210 or by visiting https://cancer.osu.edu/ in his memory.