Joseph Mykytyn, Jr.

Joseph Mykytyn Jr (Joe), age 71, of Temple, died on November 8th, 2024. He was born on July 26, 1953 in Atlanta, Georgia as the oldest of five children, to Joseph Mykytyn Sr & Shirley Yvonne Newhouse Mykytyn. Joe spent over twenty years of his life protecting and serving others as an officer with the Cobb County Police Department and continued a career in corporate security and investigations until his retirement. Outside of work, one of his greatest life passions was to organize backpacking trips for his children and other close family and friends, where they would embark on multi-day adventures with nothing but the supplies they all carried on their backs. He spent many hours of his life camping, hiking and participating in all that nature could provide with his children and grandchildren throughout his lifetime. 

Joe was a 20-year veteran of the Cobb County Police Department, where he started as a patrolman and rose through the ranks to Sergeant (affectionately known as Sarge to his unit); and then detective, where he was responsible for high-tech investigations and assisted in creating the Cobb County High Tech Crime Unit. As a result of his work with the police department, he was appointed to the U.S. Secret Service's Electronic Crime Task Force, where he was recognized for his role in “Operation Cyberstrike”. At the local level, Joe held a fundamental role in the creation of Metro Tech, a regional consortium of private- and public-sector organizations that integrates technology, information, communication and other resources to interdict organized criminal activity. Joe was recognized for his significant contributions in establishing Metro Tech by receiving the Atlanta Ivan Allen award from former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, and one nephew. He is survived by his siblings, James (Elise) Mykytyn of Temple, John Mykytyn of Cartersville, Jayne (Eugene) Rohling of Atlanta, and Janet Mykytyn of Powder Springs; his children, Marie (Brent) Stevens of Roswell, Joseph Mykytyn III of Temple, Yvonne White of Kennesaw, James (Dana) Mykytyn of Smyrna and Gabrielle Mykytyn of Smyrna; his grandchildren, Alexis, Elijah, Madelyn, Angelene, Leo and Eleanor; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 14th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM and Friday, November 15th from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at West Cobb Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia. A funeral service will follow the Friday visitation at 11:00 AM at West Cobb Funeral Home. Joe’s family will host a small lunch after the Service at the Funeral Home, and then the Interment will follow at Cheatam Hill Memorial Park in Marietta, Georgia at 1:00 PM. After Joe has been laid to rest, the family wishes to invite anyone that would like to celebrate Joe’s life to join them at Cielo Blue (Dallas Highway) from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on November 15th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund at www.nleomf.org