Michael “Mike” Harper (1963-2024)

Michael was of the persuasion that life was something to be grasped by the horns. Roadblocks were nothing but mere nuisances to swat away on his quest to live life fully and without regret. He was passionate, idealistic, unapologetic and possessed of a steely mental resolve. If he wanted it, whatever “it” might be, he made it happen. Michael Joseph Harper, 61, of Austin, Texas transcended the physical world on September 16th, 2024 at 8:14 PM. He was surrounded by his immediate family.

Michael was born in Houston, Texas on January 7th, 1963 to Rena and Fred Harper. Rena and Fred were both hilarious and stoic, respectively, lending balance to their parenting style and instilling these personality traits also within Mike himself. Michael was active and athletic from a very young age, taking pride in his middle and high school running careers. An oft-repeated fond memory from these years was his participation in a relay running/bareback horse riding race. This was a particularly wild challenge to tackle, especially given Mike had never before ridden a horse, but it was exactly the kind of harebrained physical feat he relished. He recalled with equal parts horror and pride his completely rubbed raw inner thighs following the clinched win. Michael countered his competitive nature with an inherent comedic calling, voted “most witty” his senior year of high school. Those who knew Mike well know this was a moniker he accepted with pride and sought to personify his entire life. Nothing made him happier than breaking a laugh out of those around him.

Mike attended Angleton High School from 1977-1981 where, as mentioned, he took part in the cross country and track teams with dreams of running in college. Though he dabbled in collegiate running at a couple different universities, Mike eventually graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1987 after taking intermittent semesters off to travel through Europe, visit his parents who were living in The Netherlands, and ultimately find his Dutch wife Mirjam Sluijter. After securing his degree in ‘87, Mike accepted his first sales job right out of college and never looked back when it came to a career in tech. He was a proud businessman, taking pride in his adroit ability to navigate clients and coworkers. His career as a VP of Sales for various software companies was an impressive one, taking him across the United States, to England, and back to his beloved Austin, Texas.

Previously mentioned, Mike met his wife Mirjam in The Netherlands summer 1983. They were both participants on baseball/softball teams in the same club, immediately connected by a great love for sport. Mike recalled fondly the “sparkly blue pants” Mirjam wore on the softball field as being an engineer of their love story. At the young ages of 21 and 22, they were married a year later in Nuenen, The Netherlands. They soon returned to The United States so that Mike could finish his degree and the two might begin their life together.

Mike and Mirjam have two daughters, Mariah born in 1992 and Mikaela born in 1996 in Dallas, Texas. Mike was a fiercely protective and proud father. His support was unwavering, sometimes undeserved, and buoying. Upon watching Liam Neeson’s 2008 hit thriller Taken, Mike told his daughters: “That’s me. Liam Neeson’s character. If anything ever happened to either of you two, I would not stop until I found you. I would not rest until I found you.” Michael was at every swim meet, every dance recital, every softball game, every ceremony, every graduation. There was no event unworthy of celebration and he was committed to “doing it up,” to use his own words. A powerful love, an unconditional love- this was how Mike operated.

Mike is perhaps best remembered by his friends, fraternity brothers, baseball teammates, and triathlon training partners as being relentlessly funny, unapologetically competitive, and sharply intelligent. His daughters remember him staying up nights on the phone with old friends, laughing into the late hours while chewing over favorite memories and inside jokes. He was gifted with a magnetic personality; those around him felt honored by his attention and proud to be his friend.

Mike could be best defined by his inability or, perhaps, refusal to take life sitting down. He was an active individual, dedicated to wresting everything he could from his days. Whether he was training for triathlons, running with his daughters, planning family trips abroad, hiking through West Texas, enrolling in creative writing classes (and indulging his dream to eventually become a horror author like his idol Stephen King), volunteering as a community youth mentor, working on the family farm in Chriesman, raising money for various deserving causes, or concocting ingenious codes to uncover “hidden” Christmas gifts, Michael simply wasn’t satisfied with a quiet life. His was a life well and truly lived.

Michael will forever be remembered for his incisive belief in right and wrong as well as his love for his family. He was someone who believed in justice and “doing the right thing.” He was honest, open and dignified. He loved his wife and daughters more than anything in the world and it is a fact that he would have walked through fire for any one of them. Many times over, if needed. He will be severely missed. In the memories of those who knew him, he lives on for eternity.

Michael was preceded in death by his father Fred, his mother Rena, and his sister Melinda. He is survived by his wife Mirjam, his daughters Mariah and Mikaela, and his dog Sadie.

Mike’s service will take place in Chriesman, Texas on November 9th, 2024. Ceremonies will begin at 1:30 PM at the Chriesman Church. Help us celebrate the brilliantly memorable human Michael was and will forever be remembered as. See Michael’s memorial site for extended details, directions, and times.

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