Our beloved Mike died on Monday, December 22 at the age of 73. Though his health was slowly deteriorating, his sudden departure leaves a profound void in the lives of those who knew his complex and brilliant spirit.
Mike will be forever mourned by his daughter Jennifer (Cory), sister Marie (Ron), and his nieces and nephews. He will also be dearly missed by his living companion and friend, Penny. He is also survived by Jennifer’s mother Clara. Mike was predeceased by his mother Rose Eva, father Metro (Mike), and half-siblings Yvonne and Edward.
A longtime resident of Edmonton, Mike lived the majority of his life in the city he called home. A man of intricate layers, Mike was a skilled tradesman who found beauty in precision. After studying at NAIT and working as an electronics technician, he spent decades as a respected insulator in Fort McMurray and Edmonton. He was a mentor to many, known for a work ethic that stayed on “overtime” and a meticulous mind that demanded excellence in every task. Yet, the same calloused hands that mastered complex industrial projects were at their most precise and gentle when he held his baby girl. His love for Jennifer was his greatest truth; he cherished his time as a stay-at-home dad, and the bond they forged in her early years remained the cornerstone of his heart.
It is impossible to capture a person in an obituary, but we all hold fond memories of how he enriched our lives. Mike lived with a drive that was uniquely his own, expressed through an enviable toughness, inquisitiveness, and a thirst for challenge. This spirit was evident early on, whether he was winning medals in discus or playing high school football with a broken arm. That youthful physical grit evolved into a consuming passion and prowess on the chessboard. Fueled by an unyielding desire to solve the board’s mysteries and outwit his opponent, his strategic mind would come alive under the lights, leading to legendary games that often stretched deep into the night.
His passions were as diverse as they were intense. Whether he was collecting LP’s, tinkering with his cars, or showcasing his landscaping skills, he approached every hobby with deliberation and focus. From the disciplined training of his dogs, Trooper and Shadow, to his wild appreciation for rock ‘n’ roll and learning the guitar; from his quiet pride in his Ukrainian heritage to his fascination with the History Channel or a good Sci-fi saga—each pursuit was an expression of an active mind and an endless thirst for knowledge.
We acknowledge with heavy hearts that Mike also walked a difficult path. The complexities of his life often kept him at a distance from those he loved. We are left with an odd kind of pain that he could not defeat that weakness and sadness that he missed experiences and milestones in our lives. Yet, we refuse to let his shadows obscure his light as we pay tribute to a life well-lived and a man well-loved.
Mike was a turbulent soul who has finally found his rest. We will long for his smile, miss his kind heart, cherish his stories, and delight in the memory of him sharing a joke.
As no formal service will be held, those with special memories of Mike are asked to share them in the online obituary guestbook as we seek our own peace in his passing.