Sorry, this is a long one, but well worth the read. Pictures to follow.
Mike and I met at Fiddle Sticks, a small bar in Lakewood, CO, right behind my girlfriend’s apartment, whom is now my wife of 23 1/2 years. That night, 27 years ago, it was pouring rain and Mike had just finished putting plastic over trusses he'd finished hanging on his 2nd Ave house. It was then that I knew Mike and I were going to get along well. We collaborated on many building projects throughout the years. Later, he’d laugh at my youngest son Robby whom he dubbed Bob the Builder. We’d ask him “can we build it” and of course his answer was “yes we can”. Jill knew Mike through work. He did a lot of engineering for Tony V Plumbing, and she introduced us to each other. When we 1st met, he looked at me like I was some perverted married man trying to get into his friend’s (Jill’s) panties. He even told her, “don't mess with that guy, he's married”.
One night at Fiddle Sticks, he asked me, “are you really a pilot?” I just started laughing… next thing you know, I was taking his dad Merlin (an aviation enthusiasts) on a 767 simulator ride for his 63rd birthday (weird because I turned 63 this year). Merlin had a blast and Mike couldn’t stop laughing because I had to freeze the sim at least 6 times to prevent it from crashing. Mike is probably laughing as we speak!
Then came the Harleys… Mike, Twit and me, with Jill in tow, rode down to Four Corners Rally. I was renting a bike and he was determined to help me get a bike. I bought “Peggy Sue” and I’m still riding her to this day. We had some great times riding around Denver. I can recall coming back from his Cajun buddy’s birthday party and I missed a turn by his house. I laid a long skid, turned around and made the turn down his street. I just remember him saying, “I’ve never seen anything like that”. He was so impressed, he went back and measured the skid mark. He said it was 30 yards long and straight as an arrow. I found that hard to believe, but, by the way Jill was shaking when she got off the bike, maybe it was? We also went to Daytona Bike Week, Vegas Bike Week and Sturgis multiple times.
After Jill and I got married and had kid’s, things settled down, a little bit, but as single dad’s (no discredit to my wife who helped tremendously) knew how to take care of our older boys (Skyler, Aubrey, Mitchell and Marshall) who were very close in age. We’d take them to Dave and Buster’s for their birthdays and I always baked a birthday cake. He on the other hand sewed a lot. We called each other “Betty Crocker” and “Betsy Ross”.
I saw girlfriends come and go. He always told me that he was the worst picker of women, but in reality, I think Mike was just too much for them to handle. There’s no arguing that Mike was always right. He would get mad at people for stupid reasons. Let’s say he was not thin skinned and if you didn’t have a thick skin like his, he didn’t care. Once you got to know Mike, you’d find that he was a little more bark than bite and that he was a very caring person. He was always there for friends and family until the unexpected end. We also did a lot of hunting for the “Great Wapiti“. When my oldest son passed away 2 ½ years ago at the age of 34 ½, Mike gave me a hunting knife that goes with me every time I go out. It’s engraved “Happy Hunting Dad, Love Mitch”. When Jill and I had our 1st child, Gavin Michael Gillespie, Mike declared himself Gavin’s Godfather and it’s been that way ever since. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Gavin broke his front 4 teeth on a dirt bike and after he ran his Jeep through a light pole and into a corn field, Mike dubbed Gavin “Crash”. Mike and I were sounding boards for each other when it came to our childen. We muddled our way through fatherhood and in my opinion, we did a pretty good job.
A few years ago the family went to visit Mike in Upton. Jill rolled our ATV when she was out riding with Gavin. She broke her shoulder, tore off her rotator cuff and ripped the skin off one of her calves. Mike was very concerned about her and helped with her recovery. He gladly allowed us to stay with him until Jill was able to travel home. Oh ya, he did have a name for Jill, “Tree Hugger”. Haha.
Mike was very proud of his NorDak roots. He talked very highly of both sides of his family. After I retired from United Airlines, I had the opportunity to fly my airplane (dubbed The Red Rocket) out to Mike’s place. I took him for a ride over his house and he couldn’t help but ask if I was flipping the right switches, going the right direction or if I was flying too low. I wouldn’t expect anything different. I actually think he was a little nervous but he had a blast. From there, we drove up to Watford City, Keen, The Homestead, The Church, The Cemetery where many of his family was buried and a lot of oil wells (drill baby drill). I got to meet many family members and brand a bunch of cattle. I’m so glad that I had that experience and look forward to seeing many of you again!
I last saw Mike in May and and spoke with him about three weeks ago. This was so unexpected. I’ve never had a dull moment with you buddy! You will be greatly missed and you lived a full life. As you would say my friend, “ It was a HOOTINANNY!”
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