Birth date: Dec 28, 1964 Death date: Dec 15, 2023
Michael David Ochadleus 58 yrs. young, went to meet his Savior on December 15th, 2023 after 3 months of fighting back several complications he endured from a double lung transplant at U of M Hospital in September. He was born to M Read Obituary
As long as I can remember, our family time was spent on the water. Mom and Dad hanging with their friends, and our gaggle of misfits getting into mischief. Mike was our leader. He would bait the hooks for fishing when I was too young to do it. He was the captain of the row boat and would take us out one by one into the canal or river, spending hours on end dropping off one and picking up the next. When I was six, I was hit by a car and left the hospital with a body cast and a reclining wheelchair. Mike would run behind my chair down the middle of the street as fast as he could. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. One day, Mike and Eric picked me and my cast up and put me in the crook of the tree in our yard and left me there for Mom to find me. Mike saved money for an entire summer to buy his first love, a yellow lab puppy he named Captain Oliver Hazard Perry the third. Captain was the first of several yellow labs for Mike. To Mike they truly were “Man’s best friend”. High school came and Mike found his second love. Football. I’ve never seen such motivation and dedication. It was not work to Mike because he enjoyed the game so much and had a passion for it. By the time I made it to high school, our name was famous because of Mike. People would say to me excitedly, “You’re an Ochadleus?!”. Our St. Clair Shores house was notorious for Mike’s parties. Unbeknownst to our parents, who went up north most weekends, Mike would throw parties to rival Animal House. Sundays were spent cleaning and putting everything back in its place. Mom and Dad were never the wiser. I remember going to the football games at Eastern Michigan to watch Mike play. I went to every game with my parents. I had a cow bell to cheer Mike on when they said his name over the PA. The people around us were ready to kill me by the end because they said Mike’s name constantly. So many memories and stories have been coming to mind. I could go on and on. I just know that he was taken too young…. God must be building a boat in heaven and needed some help. Love you Mike 💜
Alice and I fondly remember our nephew Michael. We spent many summer vacations with my sister and brother-in-law Marge and Larry. Our kids were very close in age with theirs. I recall Mike’s love of boating at a very young age. He would fall asleep as soon as Larry started the engine. Of course he woke up immediately after it was shut off.
His love of boats and water never diminished. We spent many hours on the water cruising in his numerous boats and SCUBA diving in Lake Huron. My favorite boat was his cruiser, apply named “Shit Happens “
There were many enjoyable times at family gatherings as well. Mike decided that Aunt Alice should go to Woolly Bullies Bar for his bachelor party. After numerous drinks (Upside Down Kamikazis) the marriage license was temporarily misplaced. Also, “Big Mike” Clark , Mike’s best man, couldn’t remember Aunt Alice’s name. He kept calling her Aunt Joyce. To this day, our family asks when Aunt Joyce is coming out if there is any drinking involved.
I also remember Mike’s famous pig roasts. One time we ran low on ice for the beer keg. Mike and I jumped into the front seat of his truck while my son Brian and Mike’s sons Josh and Larry climbed into the back seat. Josh and Larry were punching each other and laughing all the way to the store. Brian leaned forward and said “I’m so glad I have daughters.” Josh and Larry were strapped in their car seats having a great time!
There were many more great memories of Mike being Mike. At Eric’s wedding Mike tried to teach his sixteen year old cousin, Josh Hicks, how to drink beer “…don’t say anything, don’t stand, don’t walk, ,you’ll just look stupid .” Josh didn’t listen.
I know we all have favorite “Mike “ stories. He may be gone, but he’ll never be forgotten. You’re in our hearts and thoughts forever,Mike.
