Michael (Mick) R. Durham, 71, known as “Mickelstein” by his closest friends and family was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 4, 1952, passed away on September 16, 2024, in his home surrounded by the love of his family and friends in Muscatine, Iowa. Mick courageously battled with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for nearly two years.
Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, September 20, 2024, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Celebration of life will be from 4:00 until 6:00 pm at the Overlook Ballroom in Muscatine, Iowa, following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to be distributed to the Muscatine Arboretum or the American Cancer Society. Online Condolences can be made to www.wittichfuneralhome.com
Mick graduated from Iowa State University, with a degree in Meteorology. He was our go to in-house meteorologist. We will miss calling him to find out about the forecast. After graduating he worked for the DNR, then started his career at Stanley Consultants, Inc., where he had his first retirement after 26 years, then he ended his career and retired from the Kent Corporation, working as the Environmental Director for Grain Processing Corporation. He enjoyed working in the world of environmental services improving our air and water quality.
“Mickelstein’s” antics were legendary. Those who knew him loved to be around him. Some of his highlights include early years working at Stanley Consultants and writing skits for Friday night conference events and hosting numerous parties. Some of Mick’s favorite celebrations were around Halloween and his annual “Micksology” night. He was the best host to our circle of friends and family.
Mick was a practical joker with a generous heart of gold. He celebrated his love of cartoons by taking his grandchildren to all the latest animated movies. He loved coaching all four of his children in a variety of sports. He got so much joy out of watching his children and grandchildren participate in anything they were passionate about.
One of his biggest passions was golf. He looked forward to the Stanley, Kent, and City Men’s Golf leagues starting each spring. He was so patient teaching golf to anyone that would want to learn. In his last few weeks, he was able to see some of his grandchildren hit golf balls across our pond. It brought him so much joy. He also got to watch and umpire the backyard baseball games with his kids, grandkids, brother-in-law, and nephew.
Mick was a lifelong fan of The Kansas City Royals, The Kansas City Chiefs, and Iowa State Cyclones. He also had a vast love of music, and his favorite band was The Beatles. His favorite song was Billie Jean, by Michael Jackson.
We will all miss him more than words can say. He was known for his friendliness and never hesitated to let people know that he loved them. Anyone who knew Mick was touched by his kindness, humor, and mild temperament. He was truly a peacemaker and was always a source of positivity. He never knew a stranger and would always make you feel welcomed.
Mick is survived by his wife, Wendi; four children, Matt and (April) Durham; Andrew and (Ashley) Durham; Benjamin and (Tyler Badding) Busch; Megan and (Connor) Frakes; eight grandchildren, William and Amelia Durham; Grace, George, Gwyneth, and Graham Durham; Theodore Kleist and Emerson Frakes; one sister, Linda Stillwell; one sister in-law and two brother’s in-law, Gwen and Andrew Lindner, and Ted Woolston; his mother-in-law Patricia Eney; many nieces and nephews; and an abundance of a circle of friends that he adored and loved.
He was predeceased in death by his parents, Byron Reed and Jane Marie Thomas Durham.