"I was so very sorry to hear about Mike's passing. I read the news on a mutual friends facebook page. I haven't seen Mike since High School, but I remember him to always be such a nice guy. Everyone liked Mike. He died wayyyyyy too soon. From all the things I have heard and read about Mike, he became an awesome man, husband, father and friend, who had a deep loving relationship with Our Lord. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who loved him. RIP Mike I will see you again in heaven :)"
In loving memory of
Michael Timothy Downs
September 27, 1949 - May 30, 2013
Michael Timothy Downs, age 63, died gracefully of cancer in his home in Marquette, MI on May 30, 2013.
Mike grew up in Marinette WI, was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1967. He served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1970. He received a BA degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin in 1973 and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in 1975.
Mike had a long and fruitful career as a Clinical Social Worker in Michigan and Arizona. He retired from Pathways of Marquette, Michigan in 1999, then began a second career as the CEO of Little Colorado Behavioral Health Centers in Springerville Arizona, from which he retired in 2011.
Mike is survived by his wife, Nancy (Girard) Downs of Marquette MI, his three children; Paul Downs of Chicago IL, Lee Borzick of Tucson AZ, Becky (Kyran) Walker of Eagar AZ, his grandchildren Kyrie and Brenton Walker of Eagar AZ, his mother Elizabeth (Hudak) Downs of Marinette WI, his father and mother in law Duane and Bella Girard of Lake Linden MI, brother-in-laws: Dan (June) Girard of Lake Linden MI, Dennis (Helen) Girard of Marquette MI, Mark (Kathryn) Girard of Iron Mountain MI; sister-in-laws: Paulla (Dave) Hardy, Sitka, AK, Wanda (Eric) Frimodig, Mary (Rob) Olszewski of Marietta GA, Beth (Martin) Clark of Negaunee MI and numerous Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins. He is preceded in death by his brother Jim Downs (1987) and his father James Downs (1995).
A Celebration of Life will be held at Canale-Tonella Funeral Home in Marquette MI on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. with Deacon Dennis Maki officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. Inurnment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lake Superior Hospice in Marquette, Michigan.
Memories of Mike may be shared at canalefuneral.com
Tributes
"Dear Nancy & Family, Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Mike's journey this past year was truly an inspiration to us all. I feel so blessed that I met he and his mom Betty in Angeli's in Marinette 1 year ago. What a wonderful faith experience followed. May the blessing of the wonderful memories you shared, help to ease your grief and be a comfort to you. God bless you all, Christine Hannot Pecard"
"There are so many good, good memories of Mike... He started a softball team here at Little Colorado. I don't know that we won too many games, but we enjoyed the friendship and good laughs. I still have one of the game balls that Mike gave me. We named it "The Ball of Shame". He was such a kind and generous person. Always willing to share a good laugh and let people work at their own pace in order to get to the finish line in their own way. He shared his journey with cancer with us and we will always be grateful for the gift he gave us of his courage and spirituality. I have no doubt in my mind that Mike is already a beautiful Angel. Love and prayers to the family. We are always here for you and we will continue to keep you wrapped up in our warm thoughts. Love, Roxanne"
"To Nancy and family I was deeply saddened to hear of Mike's passing, and regret I will not be able to attend the celebration of life for him. I have many fond memories of sitting next to Mike during his last few years at Pathways as we were attempting to get this thing called 'managed care' up and running in the world of mental health. He was an absolute wealth of knowledge in the world of community mental health and I viewed him as much of a mentor as a colleague. I also have to smile a bit in recollection of our consulting team stint in Montana for a couple years as Peninsula Behavioral Health (Doug, Cyndi, myself, and Mike, DonW and Jeanette). I have to admire the grace with which Mike managed his illness, and know he gained his strength from his faith, family, and friends. May he watch over you all and bring you strength in your grief and healing. With Blessings, Ginny Freeborn"
"To Nancy and family, I graduated with Mike but have not been in touch since then. I want to send my prayers and thoughts to your family. We know Mike is in heaven in the arms of our loving God and has no more pain. God bless you and continue giving you the courage and strength to continue Mike's strong spirit. Mary Manderfield Legault"
"Dear Paul, I am so sorry for your loss. I have many memories of visiting your family and dad after we went on our nightly walks years ago. My hope is that your family finds solace and comfort in your memories and in one another. Love, Hannah"
".I will forever miss my neighbor and friend Mike Downs. He was kind, loving, faithful to his family, friends and most of all to God. He was a man that did not question God's will only to know that he had a purpose. He was a man of integrity, a man that helped many who needed it, especially children who had no one else to believe in them. My kids will always remember Halloween he would make sure they were well stocked with candy by giving 3 or 4 handfuls and telling them to be safe, what great costumes they had and he was glad they stopped by. Remembering them on special occasions. No matter how busy he was he always had time for a wave, a smile or a short chat. He always worked for the greater good! His emails were inspirational and special and a testament to his faith and belief in God. I know the Angels in Heaven were there to welcome him home to Heaven, of this I have no doubt. His love for his wife, my friend Nancy and his children and grandchildren and extended family and friends is his most precious legacy. Our hearts break with sorrow but we know we will see him again and his smile will be there to greet us home. I am sure he is making Heaven even a better place as he is at the right hand of God. Vaya Con Dios, Mi Amigo~ Go With God, My Friend"
"Mike and I were classmates in grade school and high school as well as fellow parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, where Mike's dad was a deacon (the first one I ever knew!) and my dad was very active in parish work. I'd lost touch over the years though still occasionally saw him mom, Betty. I have been inspired by Mike's emails to friends and family the last few months of his life. And his love for his wife and family, as well as his Lord, clearly shown through. God bless you all--if Mike isn't at peace in heaven, there isn't much hope for the rest of us!"
"Paul, I am so sorry for your loss. You are such a good son to your father. I am glad you made the opportunity to spend so much time with your dad and family the past few years."
"Paul, I am so sorry for your loss. You have my thoughts. My memories of your father are warm ones. Love to you and your Family, Jeni Wares"
"Dear Paul~ My deepest condolences to you and your family. I always have fond memories of 'Mighty Mike' when he was our CCD instructor at St. Michael's- which was probably also when you and I first started to become such close friends. Peace and love, Jess Ross"
"I'm another one of those friends from Mike's childhood who had the good fortune to renew that friendship in amazing ways over the past year. Even though we had stayed in touch by Christmas cards and letters over the years. we did not really reconnect until I learned that Mike had cancer. It was an amazing gift to get to know him again, to come to know his beloved Nancy, to share old stories and share common views of our world today. I miss you, buddy. See you in heaven."
"Mike was my very best friend from our early days together on Thomas Street and at St Joseph's School. We spent many hours together, riding bikes, playing baseball, and just "hanging out." We were in Cub Scouts together, though I never made it past Lion, he stuck with it all the way to Eagle Scout. After the Downs family moved from Thomas Street, we didn't spend as much time together, but we did remain friends until the Wittau family moved away from Marinette. My condolences to Mike's family."