Michael Bruce Dick, of Maple City, died Jan 23. He was 74.
Born in Holland, MI, he was the oldest child of Bruce and Geraldine Dick. He grew up in Interlochen and graduated from Traverse City Senior High School in 1963.
Mike enjoyed hunting, particularly for Michigan white-tailed deer. There are people who are passionate about hunting, and then there are people who wake up in the morning and immediately start thinking about what kind of crop, coop, camera, crossbow, scent block, range finder, binoculars, gloves, broadheads, scope, or sight to try next. Mike was much closer to the latter kind of person but far, far more intense. You check your email in the morning. He checked wind direction.
Mike also enjoyed long rides along scenic northern Michigan roads on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and the camaraderie of the fellow riders that came along with it. We thought the biking might kill him some day, and it almost did. But in the end it was his heart. His heart just couldn't keep up with that man's passion.
Mike enjoyed stiff drinks and big laughs with the most motley crew of friends you've ever seen, and he was blessed to have each and every one of them. Too many to name, but good people all.
Did we mention the hunting thing? He really liked hunting. He played hard but worked hard until retirement, an entrepreneur whose success with his telemarketing business afforded him hunting trips to Alaska and Montana and South Dakota and Mexico, and also afforded him a swell place to hang all the mounts from his success on those hunting trips.
Mike was a skilled salesman.
Blood is thicker than water, and Mike made that absolutely clear. He had two sons he loved very much, one whose enthusiasm for revelry surpassed even that of his father's. The other son seems fine, but it's early still. Mike appreciated his sister and brother much more than he told them. And his granddaughter, Bianca, held a special place in his heart.
He also loved these two little dogs, a relationship that seemed so incongruous for the big buck slayer that you just had to laugh. He will be deeply missed by those dogs. He will be deeply missed by us all.
Mike is survived by his son, Eric Dick (Terri Danielson) of Carmel, IN; a sister Julie (Phil) Case of Kinglsey; a brother, Greg Dick of Ionia; numerous nieces and nephews; a granddaughter, Bianca Richards of Traverse City; two grandsons, Joe (MIchelle) Lihou of Norton Shores and Collin (Lauren Harwood) Lihou of Denver; a former wife and mother of his children, Linda Dunigan; a dear friend, Helen Simon; and at least two dozen black biker T-shirts.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his eldest son, Shane.
A celebration of Mike's life will be held at 5 pm Sat, Feb 1, 2020, at VFW Post 2780 at 3400 Veterans Drive in Traverse City.
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.
