David Thomas Stokoe, age 40, passed away in Salt Lake City on January 17, 2019. He was born on May 26, 1978 to Diane Johnson Stokoe and Thomas Alexander Stokoe in Sandy Utah. He gained his work ethic, dedication and mild peaceful disposition from his father Tom, but learned and developed his open and unassuming qualities of being accepting, loving and non-judgmental to all from his mother Diane.
From birth, Dave was smart, curious, and respectful. He was always a good student and high-achieving in football, academics, and popular not just by coolness but by kindness. His energy was infectious and confident, while somehow always maintaining incredible humility. He was taught to love God by parents who loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and because of that, served an honorable mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Leeds England mission from 1998 - 2000.
He had a close relationship with his two full brothers Steve and Neil, and especially became close with Neil after serving his mission. He was so proud of Neil and the man he became as a father and husband.
No one who met Dave stayed a stranger for long. He had a unique talent of making everyone he interacted with feel like they were his best friend, the most important person to him on the planet. He mentored countless people in the real estate industry after achieving all of his personal goals professionally. He turned his career into one where he just developed others into becoming the best version of themselves.
But Dave's greatest achievement and love of his life wasn't his work success or his popularity, it was his family. He met his beautiful wife Nikki on a blind date and was head over heels in love with her. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity on December 19, 2003. His in-laws Shaun and Ima Jean treated him like their own son, and in turn he always went above and beyond to treat them just like family too.
He intentionally sculpted his children to be confident and full of love for life and others. He treated Nikki like a princess and truly made it his personal mission each day to just do whatever she needed to be happy and feel loved. More than anything, he cared about giving his family the best life possible. He put them first over and over, whether it was choosing coloring with his kids over work responsibilities, or playing with them after work, or reading to them each night and snuggling next to them till they fell asleep.
One of Dave's proudest moments was finally having his son Cole ride side by side on dirt bikes with him as a man, and he deeply valued his relationship with him and opportunity to teach him to be a man. Sophie was his sunshine and he made sure to spend time jumping on the tramp with her or playing with her before anything else, because play was how they shared their love. He had a special bond with his angel Lola and treasured his alone time with her after her baby sister was born. Ellie was his little mini-me and she picked up all his qualities as a sassy, spunky, rebellious ball of fire, just like her Daddy.
Dave's friends were truly his brothers. They were like family to him, teaching, mentoring, refining and sculpting him into the man he became.
Dave was passionate about adrenaline and adventure and getting out and LIVING life. He loved making memories and making sure everyone around him was having fun, ensuring the weekends were planned and packed with action and excitement. Traditions were deeply important to Dave and he loved opening his home to his family and friends and just getting people together, because he valued relationships so much.
Dave was a leader, a teacher, and a completely devoted father and husband. He valued kindness and generosity and emulated patience and love to everyone, even to people who could do nothing for him in return.
We were blessed to know and love Dave for 40 years. But as painful as it is for us to move on in this earthy life without him, we find peace and comfort knowing we will see him again and that his family will all be together again. We know he will be reunited his wife and kids in heaven and continue to teach them into the eternities. Dave would not want the loss of his life to be for nothing, and if there's one thing he wants it would be for us to take inspiration from his life and be our best selves, fight our fight, and live life to the fullest putting relationships and love for each other above anything and everything else.
Dave's legacy will be honored by his wife Nicole Tomsich Stokoe, children Cole (13), Sophie (10), Lola (7) and Ellie (5), parents Tom and Diane Stokoe, brother Neil (Corrine) Stokoe, half brothers Brian, Matt and Dean Belov, in-laws Shaun and Ima Jean Tomsich, Joe (Julie) Tomsich, and Jacob (Stacy) Tomsich.
He will be greeted in heaven by Stephen Stokoe (brother), Michael Tomsich and Tony Tomsich (brothers-in-law).
Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 2742 West 14400 South in Bluffdale, UT on Friday, January 25, 2019 at 12:00 noon.
A viewing will be held at Larkin Mortuary on 3688 West 12600 South in Riverton from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday January 24, and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the stake center on Friday before funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, Dave's friends and family have set up a GoFundMe to help Nikki and his kids at https://www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-dave-stokoe
