Michael Wangerow, age 37, died Tuesday, May 28.
Mike was born on Feb. 7, 1987, in La Mesa, Calif. He and his family moved to Yankee Springs Township when he was 15 months old.
He attended Thornapple Kellogg Schools in Middleville. He received his Catholic Sacraments at SS Cyril and Methodius Parish. He joined the Boy Scouts while in elementary school and climbed the ranks to its highest honor and was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in 2004.
Mike was an active, playful kid who experienced all the fun things a child can: sports, camping, fishing, traveling, and gaming later on. He was always ready to lend a hand to help with building and fixing things around the house. At an early age, he took interest in computers, becoming very good at repairing and building new ones.
With his desire to know everything more about computers, he attended Ferris State University, studying graphic design. Rather than making a career with computers, he decided to get into the trucking industry. He drove cross country for a few years, eventually landing at Grand Rapids Transport in Jenison. He drove cross country with them as well, until he became one of their dispatchers, among other positions.
The house he purchased in Grand Rapids kept him quite busy as he was fixing it up and turning it into his home. He liked to fix small engines in his spare time, as well as his bass boat and diesel pickup. Mike was a great pit master. Some of the best smoked barbecue came from his backyard.
Michael is survived by his parents, Chuck and Mary (Kazunas) Wangerow; brother, Joseph (Taylor) Wangerow; sister, Dina Maddox; aunts and uncles Bill and Lou Ann Wangerow, Jim and Patti Wangerow, Bob and Kathy Kazunas, Tom Kazunas, Margaret and Robert Wabol; and many cousins, niece, grandnephew and grandniece.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, 312 N. Main St., Wayland. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, June 7, 2023 at SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, 159 131st Ave., with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service.
