Donald Mike

Donald Mike age 86 of Alexandria passed away peacefully and unexpectedly at Knute Nelson Nursing Home April 7, 2014 Donald Willmar Mike was born July 11, 1927 in Alexandria, MN. He was the first child born to Willmar and Esther (Heikkinen) Mike. He was baptized and confirmed at St Paul?s Lutheran Church, Moe Township. He grew up on the family farm, attended school in Holmes City and graduated from high school in Alexandria. He spent two years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper and then returned to Alexandria where he worked on construction crews for most of his life. Donny was very proud to be an American-Suomalainen Poika and grew up speaking Finnish so that English became a second language to him. He repeated the first grade because he could not speak English. He spent a lot of time with his grandparents who spoke only Finnish. There was always food on the table for his large family on the farm because of his prowess in ice spear-fishing and summer fishing on Lake Mary and hunting ducks, deer and pheasants, as he was an expert marksman. He loved playing baseball for the Holmes City team. He enjoyed listening to Whoopie John?s polka music on the radio, dancing, jigsaw puzzles, Saturday night sauna, turkey dinners with fresh cranberry sauce to drizzle over the potatoes and gravy, family reunions and being with friends. Later in life he spent a lot of time at the Senior Center. He then started volunteering his time there and when he was named Volunteer of the Year he was so very, very proud. He was a happy guy, always wanted others to be happy and loved to tell stories of how it was in the old days. Alexandria?s ?Most Eligible Bachelor? Wins Raffle and brings home a brand new Cadillac was the headline of the article in the Echo Press during the 70?s. He jumped over the tables in his excitement to claim his prize. He also shared his win with his parents for their many trips across America. Donny was preceded in death by his parents, brothers David, Charlie, Alan, Quentin, Earl and sister Judy Dietz. He is survived by brother Bruce (Donna) Mike of New London, WI, sisters Bertha (Fred) Weaver of Mansfield, TX, Enid (Gerry) Krueger of Clintonville, WI, Betty Mike of Alexandria and Diana (Dave) Torkildson of Lake Park, MN and many nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces and many, many lifelong friends and fans. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. Donny, you were ?Super?! Funeral services will be held at St. Paul?s Lutheran Church, Moe Township, on Monday April 14 at 2pm, Burial will follow at the church cemetery.