Michael Stephen Roberts, born on December 13, 1957, passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the age of 54.
Mike was born in Crystal Falls, Michigan to Helen and John Roberts. He came of age in Florence, Wisconsin, and graduated from Florence High School in the Class of 1976.
Mike’s passion in life was music. He received his first guitar at the age of 9, which began his journey of becoming a brilliant, self taught musical talent. He spent many years in the 1980’s playing guitar in bands in Wisconsin, culminating in several years working as a full-time musician Nashville with the Animal Band.
Mike shifted career gears in the 1990’s and studied to become a licensed insurance agent. He was a successful Sales Agent in the State of Minnesota and later worked as a Regional Manager in Washington and Arizona, for Physician’s Mutual Insurance Company.
For the past several years Mike lived in Tacoma, Washington and followed his Father’s footsteps, working as a licensed electrician and owner of A-1 Electric Company.
Preceded in death by his Parents, beloved and cherished Mother, Helen Pauline (Swenski) Roberts and Father, John (Bud) Daniel Roberts, Friend and Brother-in-law, Ernie McCraw; survived by Best Friends and Sisters Linda McCraw and Juli Stockberger, Best Friend and Brother John Roberts, Big Brother Jim Roberts, adored Nieces Jordan, Morgan and Shayne Stockberger, Gina (McCraw) Glowaty, Tara (McCraw) Lutz, Jenny Roberts, Lisa Roberts, Carrie (Roberts) Jones; cherished Nephews Jason Roberts and Joseph Roberts, and Brother-In-Law and former business associate, John Stockberger. He is also survived by his lifelong friends Dave McCraw and Brent DallaGrana, who he also considered to be his Brothers, along with many other close friends who will share our sadness of his passing.
Mike’s charismatic charm and wit, beautiful music, loyal friendship, and the twinkle in his eye will be missed by all of us, live on in our memories forever.
*A celebration of Mike is being planned for Saturday, September 22nd at 4:00 PM, at The Keyes Peak Ski Lodge in Florence, Wisconsin.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts, memories and love for our dear Mike.
*new date, time and location
Tributes
Leave a tributeLinda Roberts McCraw
I will see you again cousin.
Marty and Lori Moore
Elin
With love, cousin Beth Bengry Douglas
Leave a Tribute
Mike Roberts Memorial Ski Race
Keyes Peak Ski Hill
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Ski instruction and racing event for ages 6-17
Ski and race instruction for all skill levels from 9am-11:30am by Granite Peak Ski Team (GPST) coaches and staff
Race 12:30pm-3pm (timed runs- NASTAR course)
Participation medals awarded to all racers!
Watch GPST coaching staff race the course
Age Classes: Male and Female Racers
Ages: 6-7// 8-9// 10-11// 12-13// 14-15// 16-17
Medals Awarded – Gold, Silver and Bronze
Fastest Racer of the day awarded Mike Roberts Memorial Trophy
Fee: $5.00 per Racer (includes lessons, lift ticket & rentals)
All proceeds will go to the Keyes Peak Ski Hill
Lunch concessions available at the Keyes Peak Ski Lodge
Registration information available by calling 715-528-5377 ext 101 or go to www.ExploreFlorenceCounty.comand click on ski racing news item at bottom right of home page
I always looked up to my cool big brother Mikey. He was my childhood playmate and when I think of being kids I think of Uncle Wiggly, Wahoo, Marbles, Monopoly, Trick or Treating (yes, he had to take his little sister along), walking me to school (until he was too cool for that) and making me laugh in church.
I trusted Mike. In fact, I remember him talking me into being his ice skating barrel and letting him jump over me in his ice skates! Now that is real trust--or just a little sister who would do anything to hang out with her big brother.
Due to circumstances beyond our control we didn’t get to spend our teen years together, but when I was 16 we had the opportunity to experience an adventurous week driving out to Seattle in his school bus turned into a camper. I remember Linda telling him that he better get me out there safely, or else! We laughed about that years later, and nonetheless, we drove across the country and really got to know each other again--a trip I will never forget.
As adults, Mike visited me in Minneapolis when he could, usually stopping on his way for his periodic visits to Florence. When he did, we spent most of our time making each other laugh. One time, when my girls were little, he used a barn toy chicken clucker behind his back and did a ventriloquist laugh in time with the clucking, and I giggle to myself to this day when I think about it, it was so funny!
Our relationship really grew when he move to Minneapolis and worked with my Husband John in the insurance business. He lived with us for 3 months and then moved to an apartment a mile away for several years. My kids got to know and love their “Uncey Mike” as he was a regular and welcome fixture at our dinner table. We had lots of fun nights out in this time period, and there were 2 separate occasions that are etched in my heart forever: New Years in Wausau with Linda and Ernie, when we sang our dinner orders and were so loud that they gave us our own dining room; and another with Linda, Mike and me that ended at Perkins, where we laughed so hard we cried, and none of us could eat our food. These were literally two of the funnest nights of my life that I will never forget. I am forever thankful for the time we had during Mike’s Minneapolis years, where we felt that we got back some of the years we lost.
Mike and I were fortunate enough to take some incredible trips to Hawaii together with the insurance company he and John worked for, and had a good laugh on one of them when he realized that he forgot to bring all of the pants he had set out for the trip. The next morning he and I went shopping for pants in a little beach community and then stopped at an Oceanside tiki hut bar. We figured it was noon somewhere and raised our glasses toward the sea with a toast to Helen, certain with the knowledge that she was smiling down on us at that moment.
I was so incredibly sad when he moved back out to Seattle, but we stayed very close across the miles. We spent many hours on the phone on a regular basis just shooting the bull, solving the world’s problems and agreeing that he and I pretty much had all the answers! I know that “The Answer Man” was one of his best nicknames! Mike was a very special part of my life and I feel so lucky to have had such great times with him. As the saying goes, “Our loss is Heaven’s gain” and I sure hope God has a good stock of orange popsicles on hand.