Alan James Prokopenko

Alan James Prokopenko of Akron, age 59, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, September 18, 2026. Alan was born in Bay City, Michigan, on November 8, 1966, to the late James Prokopenko and Nettie (Pobanz) Prokopenko and was a 1985 graduate of USA High School. He met Sally Thrush on a blind date, and it was love at first sight; the pair would marry on March 6, 2007, and share nearly 20 years of companionship. She survives him. Alan retired from Nexteer in 2016 and spent his free time cruising the Thumb and Florida for yard and estate sales. He enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, hunting and fishing throughout the region, and could often be found on his Harley when the weather was nice. He could also be found spending his winters in Sebring, Florida with Sally by his side. Alan was a loving and sociable family man who was the life of every party and made friends everywhere he went. Anyone asked to describe him would laughingly call him a card or a jokester and there wasn’t a person who got to know him that didn’t like him.

Alan is survived by his loving wife, Sally; children, Kayla (Justin Wright) Prokopenko, Rachelle Daws, Nathaniel (Stacey Raak) Daws, and Jessie David; grandchildren, Hunter Myers, Jayci Jo Myers, Austin Hancock, Benjamin Daws, Braelynn Daws, Grayson Daws, Oakley Daws, and Lily Kuhl; two great grandchildren; sister, JoAnn (Michael Perri) Rasmussen; and nieces and nephew, Jordyn (Brenden) Ricker, Shane (Priscilla) Rasmussen, and Taylor (Zane Wright) Rasmussen who lovingly called him “Mooches;” as well as many other family members and the countless friends who knew him as the “Mayor of Wisner.”

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, James Prokopenko and Nettie (Pobanz) Prokopenko, and brother-in-law, Dean Rasmussen.

A memorial gathering for Alan will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Ransford Funeral Home – Sebewaing, 538 South Beck Street, Sebewaing. The gathering will conclude with a time of sharing starting at 7:00 p.m. Cremation is to follow. Those wanting to make an expression of their sympathy may consider a contribution to the family discretionary fund, with checks made payable to Sally Prokopenko.