Obituary for Michael E. "Mike" Gilligan
Michael (Mike) E. Gilligan, 82, of Iron Mountain, Mich., went home to the Lord on Monday, August 15, 2021, with family at his side after a brave but brief battle with cancer.
He was born on November 18, 1938, to the late Roger and Mary (Finn) Gilligan in Scranton, Iowa.
Mike was a hardworking man with many, many skills. He grew up in Johnston, Iowa as a farming boy with lots of mischievous adventures. He was first a radio airman for the Air Force when he joined at the age of 17. He married and had three children Kevin, Theresa, and David. After a few years, that marriage ended. Mike went on to join the Navy, eventually teaching, testing, and designing radio and sonar equipment for them. He met and married his second wife in 1965. They had a daughter Lisa. The marriage did not last long. Mike took Lisa with him to raise. As a single parent, he had help from his family in Iowa to raise her. He then met and married his third wife, Carol Steele of Felch, in August of 1967. They were married for almost 54 years. They had a daughter, Michelle, they then received custody of the older three siblings. The family was all together in Illinois while Mike taught electronics for the Navy. The family moved to Virginia for Mike’s last Naval years. Mike finally retired in 1976 as an electronics engineer. The family moved to Michigan to be near the Steele family. After his naval retirement, he began farming. He loved the sea but left her to tend to his family. He loved his family, farming, gardening, raising and racing horses, fishing, hunting, and of course, being on the water. Mike finally retired completely in 1991, leaving the farming life behind. He began to winter in Texas. In 2003 his wife retired also, and they spent the next 16 years living in Lakeview, Arkansas enjoying traveling, the water, fishing, gardening, friends, and family. In his last years, he found great joy in his grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Carol (Steele) Gilligan, two sons, Kevin Gilligan (Janelle) of Hillsboro, OR., and David Gilligan of Washington State, three daughters, Theresa Motto (Brad) of Coloma, WI., Lisa O’Brien (Kerry) of Folsom, CA., and Michelle Yuhasey (Tim) of Iron Mountain, MI., brother, David Gilligan (Jean) of Mountain Home, AR., eight grandchildren, Candice Gilligan, Gary Gilligan, Kyle Gilligan (Breonna Maldonado), Stephanie Motto, David Gilligan I (Rosie), Heather DeGrace (TJ), James Michael Pera (Rebekah), and Mika Yuhasey, seven great-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter on the way, and one great-great-grandson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, his grandson, Nathaniel Motto, and all of his siblings, with the exception of one brother, David Gilligan.
In accordance with Michael’s wishes, private family services will be held at a later date.
You may leave a condolence or tribute for Michael’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Michael’s legacy of life.
He was born on November 18, 1938, to the late Roger and Mary (Finn) Gilligan in Scranton, Iowa.
Mike was a hardworking man with many, many skills. He grew up in Johnston, Iowa as a farming boy with lots of mischievous adventures. He was first a radio airman for the Air Force when he joined at the age of 17. He married and had three children Kevin, Theresa, and David. After a few years, that marriage ended. Mike went on to join the Navy, eventually teaching, testing, and designing radio and sonar equipment for them. He met and married his second wife in 1965. They had a daughter Lisa. The marriage did not last long. Mike took Lisa with him to raise. As a single parent, he had help from his family in Iowa to raise her. He then met and married his third wife, Carol Steele of Felch, in August of 1967. They were married for almost 54 years. They had a daughter, Michelle, they then received custody of the older three siblings. The family was all together in Illinois while Mike taught electronics for the Navy. The family moved to Virginia for Mike’s last Naval years. Mike finally retired in 1976 as an electronics engineer. The family moved to Michigan to be near the Steele family. After his naval retirement, he began farming. He loved the sea but left her to tend to his family. He loved his family, farming, gardening, raising and racing horses, fishing, hunting, and of course, being on the water. Mike finally retired completely in 1991, leaving the farming life behind. He began to winter in Texas. In 2003 his wife retired also, and they spent the next 16 years living in Lakeview, Arkansas enjoying traveling, the water, fishing, gardening, friends, and family. In his last years, he found great joy in his grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Carol (Steele) Gilligan, two sons, Kevin Gilligan (Janelle) of Hillsboro, OR., and David Gilligan of Washington State, three daughters, Theresa Motto (Brad) of Coloma, WI., Lisa O’Brien (Kerry) of Folsom, CA., and Michelle Yuhasey (Tim) of Iron Mountain, MI., brother, David Gilligan (Jean) of Mountain Home, AR., eight grandchildren, Candice Gilligan, Gary Gilligan, Kyle Gilligan (Breonna Maldonado), Stephanie Motto, David Gilligan I (Rosie), Heather DeGrace (TJ), James Michael Pera (Rebekah), and Mika Yuhasey, seven great-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter on the way, and one great-great-grandson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, his grandson, Nathaniel Motto, and all of his siblings, with the exception of one brother, David Gilligan.
In accordance with Michael’s wishes, private family services will be held at a later date.
You may leave a condolence or tribute for Michael’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Michael’s legacy of life.