Michael Eugene Moberg, 68, of Rock, MI passed away unexpectedly Saturday August 5, 2017 at home of an apparent heart attack.
Mike was born May 26, 1949 in Gladstone the son of Richard and Patricia (Lavelle) Moberg. He was raised in Gladstone and graduated from Holy Name Catholic High School in 1966. While at Holy Name he participated in football. Following graduation, Mike worked in Detroit before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed with the 101st Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged in 1970. Mike returned to the area and worked for Mead Paper Company for 36 years before his retirement.
Mike was a member of Ducks Unlimited, U.P. Whitetails and the N.R.A. He was an avid outdoorsman and he especially enjoyed hunting. Mike was also a Green Bay Packer and Detroit Tiger fan.
In addition to his wife, Amanda “Mandy”, who he was united in marriage to on February 2, 2001, survivors include:
Daughters:
Mindy (Michael) Acha of Brampton
Elizabeth Moberg at home
Brothers:
Dennis (Cheryl Miller) Moberg of Gladstone
Joseph (Janet) Moberg of Rapid River
Grandson: Brett Moberg of Gladstone
Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a special friend, Jerry Brunette of Rapid River and the Bianchi family also survive.
In addition to his parents, his brothers, David and Jon Paul Moberg and infant sister, Ann Marie preceded Mike in death.
Mike’s family will receive friends on Saturday August 12, 2017 from 12:00 to 1:45 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Military rites conducted by the Rock American Legion will follow at 1:45 PM. Sharing by family and friends will follow the military rite. Burial will follow at the Rock Cemetery in Rock. A potluck dinner will be served at the Rock Senior Center, please bring a dish to pass.
Michael OLeary - Tucson, AZ
A Tribute: Mighty Mikey Moe
Michael Moberg has passed into the infinity of stars. I’ve known him since kindergarten. He was a whirling dervish of a kid with a heart of gold. His family was a gaggle of boys, mine a troop of girls plus two boys. He was a fearless warrior from the time he was five right to the end. He was always a scrapper ready to prove his mettle at the proverbial “drop of a hat.” I loved the guy.
Upon graduation from high school in 1967 I headed to the Detroit area to find work in the auto industry. My game plan was simple, work for six months, start college at EMU in Ypsilanti in 68’ and stay out of the bloody Vietnam War. I told Moe to come on down and make some money, be young, free and wild with me. He did. We worked at the Willow Run GM plant second shift. I had found an apartment in Ypsi and he became my roommate.
We discussed life nightly after the bell at 11pm over a few beers in the comfort of our grown up living. I tried to convince him to enroll in college with me. He would have none of it. He was a stubborn, headstrong sumbitch that wanted to prove to the world he was just as tough as our father’s generation. He had a brilliant mind that I thought was going to waste away if he chose the path of a soldier. He could read the Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky in a day and give you an erudite, succinct synopsis in a heartbeat. I was in awe of his mental faculties. He could have done anything, he was that smart.
As 68’ began I moved into the dorm and he kept the apartment continuing to work. He would stop in at least a couple of nights a week with a Domino’s pizza to share with us. We, Dave and I, the dormmate, kept on him to ditch the idea of being infantry in the Army. He brushed us off with his own convoluted reasoning as to the why he had to do this. The bantering would go on back and forth into the wee hours about politics, literature, movies and anything that popped into our young glorious minds.
I don’t remember if he enlisted or just waited to get drafted, but by the late Spring he was scheduled for induction. He was to become an Army Ranger sniper. Time passed without a word, as I moved to another college in Central Washington. Home for the summer I heard he was out and paid him a visit at his folk’s house. He told me the whole story of the horror of war. His emotional scars were leaking out of his eyes and I could only hug him in his quest for normalcy of some kind in the future. We were only twenty-one years old for god’s sake. I’m sure PTSD visited him for years and I hoped he would find his way out of the quagmire inside his head.
Over the last 45 years I had only heard rumors about his life from time to time. I somehow connected with him about a year and a half ago on Facebook. We talked on the phone a handful of times about our lives. He told me how he had finally come to grips with the turmoil of life. He was a proud step-father to a beautiful daughter. He had found contentment and happiness in his last years and I was blessed to hear that. Both of us were eager to meet up face to face this summer for our 50th class reunion. He had skipped all of them, but was going to show if I made it up there. I feel I let him down and I apologize Mighty Moe. I still can see you on the schoolyard of All Saints when they were building the new school, the mountain of dirt was our pretend battleground and you led the charge to vanquish all of our enemies. You will forever be a fearless warrior for decency in a troubled world.
Julia Wright - Ocala, FL
I wish I could be there. I glad I did get to meet u. Love you Mandy and elli and take care your cousin Julia
Sorry for your loss
Bill McCarty - Neenah, wi
To Dennis and Joe –
Our condolences to you and our families. I remember working with all of you including Mike and JP many years ago. Take care.
Bill and Sue McCarty