John Joseph Yonich, of Aberdeen, Washington quietly passed away unexpectedly at his beach home in Westport on Oct. 31, 2021. He was 67 years old.

John was born on Aug. 18, 1954. He grew up in the Aberdeen area and attended Weatherwax High School.

After graduating from Weatherwax, John attended the University of Washington where he studied business and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity on campus. John graduated with his business degree in 1977 and was a proud Husky the rest of his life.

Shortly thereafter John started a life in Bellevue with his wife Chris and three children. During this time he built a successful wood moulding company from the ground up, which he continued to operate for over 35 years.

Later in life John returned to Grays Harbor concentrating primarily on revitalization projects in the area.

John built and invested in a variety of businesses within the Harbor, but was mostly known for his restoration of the D&R Theatre. The theatre was originally built in 1924 but fell into disrepair until John restored it to working condition in 2008. John hosted many concerts and events in the theater over the years and attracted visitors from all over the world.

John was a member of the Elks, enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, and had a passion for creating new businesses that helped the community. He sponsored many local events and coached youth sports teams, including his own kid’s teams. While he was passionate about his business endeavors, anyone close to John was touched by his kindness, humor and extreme generosity. He was a born leader and a consistent source of optimism and creativity, even during difficult times.

He is survived by his three adult children: Kyle, Ashley and Lindsey, his son-in-law Mike, as well as extended family and an abundance of friends.

His family is deeply saddened by his sudden loss and is preparing a private service in the coming days to commemorate his death. An event to celebrate his life will be planned in the coming weeks and an announcement will be made for those who would like to join and honor his life. Any flowers or contributions can be sent to Nirvana Coffee Co., 205 S I Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.