Michael Jesse ‘Miko’ Stemac

Michael was born September 26, 1979 to Robert and Cindy (LaLonde) Stemac. He graduated from Gladstone High School.

Michael worked through Lakestate Industries doing several jobs in the wood-shop, at the mall and the meat room at the Gladstone Super Valu.

At a young age Michael took great interest in going into the woods with his dad where they built a small camp and spent much quality time together hunting, playing games and cutting and splitting wood, which turned out to be a big hobby of Michael’s where he took great pride in maintaining his wood yard.

Another passion was sports. Michael would cheer on his cousins, Ginger (Weber) Moore and Brianne (Weber) Helmila as they played basketball for NMU. He also enjoyed NMU hockey where Michael got to know players from Canada and after some games got to go in the locker room to enjoy pizza and pop and share in the winning atmosphere.

Then there was the American Legion baseball, going to several games downstate and in the Copper Country, but the favorite place to go was the Soo, especially winning the Zone Tournament. Michael always enjoyed playing catch in between innings.

Michael was also a big fan of Tom Brady “the Michigan Boy” as him and his grandpa, Red would say, as they were both big Michigan Wolverine fans. He also cheered for the Milwaukee Brewers, NASCAR “7 time champion” Jimmy Johnson, and the Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby.

He enjoyed playing many games on his Sony PlayStation 5 and had a blast last summer with Gavin Moore on the jet ski and was looking forward to it again this summer.

Michael’s greatest time of the year was “Camping Season.” He looked forward to going to Fuller Park each and every year and being with “Summer Family” and helping out with anything he could. He loved being at the Park and enjoyed hunting, fishing, four wheeling and listening to Carrie Underwood, Kelsey, Ballerini and Lainey Wilson. He also like dogs, but his mom said no to having real dogs so he had two large stuffed dogs named Mitty Girl and Penny Girl.

Michael is survived by his loving mother, Cindy (LaLonde) Stemac; grandmother, Alberta (Abie) LaLonde; half-sister, Amy (Pat) Kemink; very special aunt and uncle, Debbie (Mark) Weber; uncle, Doug (Sue) LaLonde; aunt, Judy Miller; and aunt, Sharon Wickman; cousins, Ginger (Chris) Moore, Brianne (Walley) Helmila, Kelly (Ryan) Jahner, Rachel (Michael) Johns, Erica (Joseph) Skellenger, Nikki (Josh) Martin, Bart Miller, Jill Miller and Dawn Wickman; special friends, Dave and Kristin Stevens, Kristy and Tom, McEvoy and their dog Bear, Cassie and Elia Lanaville, Alex Lambert, Jake Nyquist and Tina and Jeremy Aalto, Al and Kathleen Nault, and Frank and Sharon Sinnaeve. He is also survived by his “Summer Camping Family” Steve Wery, Stacy and Mike Sands, Roger and Mary Jo Mikkola, Wendy and Bob Fuller, Becky and Todd Dubord, Marie and Pete DaHaan and Karen.

Michael was preceed in death by his father, Robert “Bubba” Stemac; an infant brother; grandfather, James “Red” LaLonde; grandfather and grandmother, Michael and Nora, Stemac; uncle, Michael J. Stemac; and good friend, Patrick Nault.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 5:30 p.m at All Saints Catholic Church with Fr. Jamie Ziminski officiating. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Michael will be laid to rest in the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone.

To leave a message of condolence, go to www.skradskifuneralhomes.com.