Stephen P. Tylutki has been promoted to Guardian Angel, First Class, and received his Wings Friday, May 29, 2020.  Stephen is a blessed soul and loving energy that is now free from the restrictions, confines and misunderstandings his human body and physical mind provided.  His essence, call to duty and a sense of humor too pure for this world.  Stephen's Legacy is Unconditional Love.

Stephen is a native Tucsonan and attended Pio Decimo Center and St. Ambrose School.  As a youth Stevie enjoyed singing in all three choirs with the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, in addition to, playing sports including Pop Warner Scorpion Football, Old Pueblo Little League, St. Ambrose Basketball and endless pick-up games or wiffle ball tournaments with his brothers, neighborhood friends and Fofo the dog in the backyard.  Playing "computer" with his dad, siblings and friends, in addition to, memorable fishing adventures being notable favorites.

After graduating Salpointe Catholic High School in 1998, Stephen enrolled in a few classes at Pima College and one day called to attention his family to inform them he enlisted in the US Army Guard.  Shortly thereafter, Stephen was "moving out" to Fort Benning, Georgia for Basic Combat Training where he earned an Expert Badge for Marksmanship.  After Basic, Private Tylutki earned his chosen military occupational specialty as a "MOS Fifty-Five-Bravo" Ammunitions Specialist at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama in 1999.  "In the rear with the gear but ready to support the front line," he'd say.  During this enlistment Stephen was presented the Battle Achievement Metal for his actions during simulated war games training in Louisiana.  He's squad lost and in disarray, Private Tylutki volunteered to scout the perimeter and surrounding hills.  In doing so, he cited the enemy HQ, snuck up, and captured the leadership all by himself meritoriously winning the battle.  After training, Stephen was assigned to the Arizona National Guard, 1 ^st /285 ^th Attack Helicopter Battalion, while working as a civil service helicopter refueler.  Stationed at Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana, Arizona, Specialist Tylutki frequently operated a 500 horsepower, eight wheel drive, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) equipped with 2,500 gallons of "go juice" (jet fuel), in support of Forward-Arming and Refueling Points for Apache Longbow attack helicopters.  During operations and training, Specialist Tylutki and his crew would rendezvous with the Longbows in the middle of the desert; re-arm "Hellfire's and 30 Mike-Mike," and "hot refuel," half-a-dozen Apaches, rotors thundering and whirling.  Stephen also took pride and honor in actively volunteering to conduct search and recovery missions, including successfully locating 19 Marines from the debris of a V-22 Osprey; effectively helping to sending them home to their grieving families.

As Stephen's Army Guardsman tour of duty came up for renewal, he decided to complete his college education and switched military branches effectively joining the Air Force.  Stephen would say, "The Marines sleep in the beach, the Navy in the boats, the Army in tents, and the Air Force at the Holiday Inn."  Stephen sold his home in Tucson and moved back east to serve with the West Virginia Air National Guard, which agreed to pay his college tuition in full.   Once again, Stephen would pull double duty as a Reservist while holding down a Civil Service job.  Assigned to the 167 ^th Maintenance Squadron, 167 ^th Airlift Wing stationed at Martinsburg, WV, he also served as a Non-Destructive Aircraft Inspector for over seven years.  Staff Sargent Stephen P. Tylutki completed Airman Leadership School, in addition to, receiving Magneto-Optic Imaging Systems Training & Maintenance certifications and Secret Clearance to use specialized X-ray and laser equipment to inspect the air frames and engine components of C-130H's and C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft—one of the largest airplanes in the world.  SSgt. Tylutki also preformed extra duty as a Fabrication Section Flightline Driving Program Coordinator developing training curriculum and teaching other Airmen.

In 2005 Stephen was accepted and began attending classes at Fairmont State University, home of the Fighting Falcons.  At FSU Stephen excelled in his studies as a full-time student attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Psychology, receiving multiple President's List accreditation's for maintaining a 4.0 GPA each semester along the way to pursuing a graduate degree.  A member of the Alpha Phi Sigma Honors Society, on May 15, 2010, with his proud family in attendance, Stephen Peter Tylutki was "Hooded," earning a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

After graduate school, Stephen began interning in his field at various agencies in the DC area, notably, working for the National White-Collar Crime Center as an Internet Fraud Analyst Intern.  On occasion, Danny would extend a working trip to DC to visit "Win-Chest-Ta, Gubna" (Winchester, VA) and over beers and wings at BW3's, Stephen always joked, "Your name still has not come up in any databases brah."

In 2012, Stephen decided to pursue a career in social service together with a need to come home to aid his mother who had recently undergone two total knee replacement surgeries. In making this decision, he accepted an Honorable Discharge from the Armed Services.  Returning home to Tucson, civilian Stephen Tylutki pursued a career in social and human services working for various local, mission driven, non-profit agencies including Our Family Services, Old Pueblo Community Services and Primavera Foundation.  Stephen had a special affinity and advocacy for homeless veterans and their families working or volunteering for Homeless Street Counts, Operation Stand Down's and other outreach efforts.  A favorite story from the non-profit community is, unexpectedly, Stephen fired up and started wielding a heavy-duty forklift at a Hope Fest to help organize and better make available donations to homeless folks.  Another time Steve came home from work without his shoes and socks having given his Army boots to a vet in need, telling him not to worry, he had another pair at home.  It was not uncommon for Stephen to work from home, and into the night, routinely paying for hotel rooms and food with his own money to help the homeless.   Stephen loved to give with all is heart and soul.

For those that really know Stephen, if you really needed help, you could always depend on him to answer the call and he would be there to serve no questions asked.

Stephen Peter Tylutki is survived by his loving and compassionate parents Maria Teresa Tylutki and John Peter Tylutki; younger brother Christopher Adam Tylutki; older brother Daniel Anthony Tylutki, sister-in-law Tanya Tylutki, God Son Luca Peter Tylutki, and nephew and niece Ezra Delfino Tylutki and Maya Catalina Tylutki; and finally, God Parents being Joseph and Molly Tylutki.  Steve is also loved by all his Uncles Seth, Chuck, Rudy and Mark; Tio's Gus, Chuy and Jerry; Aunts Besty and Josie; Cousins Jacyln, Joey, Billy, David, Chrisanana, Vanessa, AJ, Sunshine, Cati, Noel, Tommy and Alexis; and, First Cousins, Cecila, Elsa, and 'Sues.  Families Tylutki, Tobey, Hughes, Morales, Ruiz, Bojorquez, Romero, Moreno, and Gauna, in Arizona; familias Jeantete, Lucero, Fernandez and Torres in Taos, New Mexico; and, many other friends and family member, too numerous to mention, will continue to honor Stephen's legacy of unconditional love.  Stephen was greeted and received by his Grandma Catalina, Tata Blas, Aunts Chavela and Rosie, and Augustine Junior; Grandma Dolores, Grandpa John, Uncle Tim, Great-grandma Grossie (Gertrude) and Great Grandpa Gordon; and, countless kind souls we all remember and love.

A private mass for immediate family will be held at Most Holy Trinity Church in Tucson. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be available via live stream on Monday, June 8, 2020 beginning at 9:00 AM. at: https://youtu.be/v_Jebs6ixbE A Rosary will be recited at 10:30 AM at Carrillo's Tucson Mortuary, South Chapel (75 guest max occupancy), 240 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85701.  All are welcome to participate in the escorted procession to Holy Hope Cemetery for burial services beginning at 12:30 PM. Please dress accordingly in appropriate Tucson summer attire; plan on bringing an umbrella and plenty of water.   In lieu of a reception, and in response to health and safety concerns, a Celebration of Stephen's Life will be scheduled later date for all friends and family.  God Bless.

Stephen wants us to know that he loves us, he's doing fine, and is honored to be protecting and looking out for us from Heaven.