Michael J. ‘Mike’ Hanson

He was born on Oct. 15, 1951 in Escanaba, son of Eugene M. and Theresa A. (Sloan) Hanson. Mike was raised in Bark River and graduated from Bark River Harris School in 1969.

After he graduated, he enlisted in the Marines and served from July 1969 to July 1971. He then attended Bay de Noc Community College receiving a degree in criminal justice and attended the Police Academy at Northern Michigan University. In 1978, Mike began his career with Escanaba Public Safety until he retired on Dec. 31, 2001. He then worked for Homeland Security as an armed guard at the Social Security Administration in Escanaba for 10 years.

On July 10, 1982, Mike married Katherine Fisk at Salem Lutheran Church in Bark River. They had three daughters, Alicia, Melissa and Kaylee, who he loved to spend time with going for rides in the country and taught them how to fish.

Mike was skilled in building things. He enjoyed restoring his 1959 Ford, took pride in constructing his own Harley Davidson motorcycle, as well as building his own home. He also liked to go fishing, play with his granddaughters, and spend time at his daughters’ house in Bark River near where he grew up.

Survivors include his wife, Katherine “Kathy” of Escanaba; mother, Theresa (Gordon) LeClair of Escanaba; mother-in-law, Jean Fisk of Perronville; children, Alicia (Andrew) Sturdy of Gladstone, Melissa Hanson of Bark River and Kaylee (Kace) Lovejoy of Traverse City; two ­grandchildren, Stella Sturdy and Joanna Lovejoy; siblings, Dennis (Diane) Hanson of Cornell, Judy (David) Cmejla of Perronville, Patty (David) Lindstrom of Wells, Matt (Kelly) Hanson of Bark River, Nancy (Steve) Warner of Combined Locks, Wis. and Kenneth (Lynn) Casperson of Escanaba; sister-in-law, Janice Barker, and brother-in-law, Jack (Mary) Fisk of Perronville; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Hanson of Bark River and father-in-law, John R. Fisk Sr. of Perronville.

Visitation will be on Monday, Sept.16, 2019 at United Evangelical Covenant Church in Gladstone from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Andrew Sturdy officiating and then Delta County Veterans Council will have military rites. At the conclusion of the military service, a meal will follow in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Mike’s family.

A message of condolence may be directed to the Hanson family by visiting crawfordfuneralhomes.net.