Michael Charles Bodak, of Idlewild and Grand Marais, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the age of 72. He is survived by his three daughters: Catherine Picel, Charlotte Smith, and Rachel Bodak.

Michael was born on September 9, 1952, in Pontiac, Michigan. At 17 years old, he earned his pilot’s license, launching a lifelong love for aviation. Michael didn’t just fall in love with flying—he was gently catapulted into it by his father, a WWII veteran, who jumped out of enough planes to know the sky was safer than anything happening on the ground. His career took him across the country as a commercial pilot for Simmons and American Airlines and making life-long friends along the way. Later, he founded his own business Upper Peninsula Flightseeing, offering scenic air tours over the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, flying his beloved Cessna Skymaster.

Michael was a man of adventure and fiercely independent spirit. In his later years, he embraced life on the road in his RV, traveling throughout the South and wintering in Florida. He found joy in cranking up his bass guitar and in the constant companionship of his loyal dog and co-pilot, Blue.

He lived life entirely on his own terms. From piloting and sailing to scuba diving and skydiving, Michael seemed to treat gravity as more of a suggestion than a rule - with a life stitched together with near-misses and unforgettable stories. He leaves behind a legacy of adventure and a deep love for the open waters of Lake Superior and the skies above. He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

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