John "Pete" Yakimick, age 84, of Polk, beloved husband to Barbara, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, November 24, 2025. Son of the late John and Dorothy (Sandusky) Yakimick. Brother of Connie (Stu), Paula (Tom), Candace, Maxine (Tom), Karen (Angelo), Patricia, Claudia, and Jill (Kevin). Devoted father to Tausha Adams (Matt), Nicole Ricker (John), and Jennifer Lipski (Joe). Loving grandfather to Madelyn, Lillian, Quentin, and Jack. Pete is survived by, and preceded in death by, many loved ones from the Connellsville area.

Pete loved Pennsylvania. He was a 1959 graduate of Connellsville Area High School. He was proud to be both a veteran of the United States Air Force and an alumnus of Penn State. He worked for decades in commercial construction and development. As for sports, he would never miss a chance to cheer on his Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins.

Pete was a lifelong avid and expert outdoorsman, and traveled around the country as much as he could, even to Alaska, to hunt, to fish, and to explore. He loved and respected everything about nature, from meticulously cutting his own firewood, regularly tending his hummingbird feeders, to carefully tapping his maple trees to make his own syrup.

He had a vast knowledge of history, most especially of the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II. He loved to read, was a great thinker, a creative problem solver, a master storyteller, and was always ready for a good debate on just about any topic.

It would be remiss to not mention the dogs he and Barbara loved beyond measure: Gipper, Ruby, Maggie, and Kody.

If you knew Pete well, you knew you had someone you could always count on when the going got tough. He was a person with a generous spirit, and the world was definitely made a better place with him in it. We miss him dearly.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 West Park St. Franklin where family and friends are welcome from 12:30 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

A Memorial Service will follow at 1:00 P.M. in the funeral home chapel with Maddison Bakker, Certified Celebrant, officiating. 

Pete will receive Military Honors at the conclusion of the service rendered by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the V.E.T.S Honor Guard, P.O. Box 137 Franklin, PA 16323

Online condolences may be sent to Pete's family by visiting huffguthrie.com.