Michael "Mike" Frances Altherr's Obituary
Michael “Mike” Frances Altherr, of Decatur, lost his 18-month battle to a brain cancer, Glioblastoma, Thursday May 7, 2015 at 11:36 a.m. He was at his residence with his wife and daughter by his side.
Mike was born January 9, 1951, in Marion, IN, the son of Ronald F. and Gwendolyn Drollinger Altherr. He married Donna Howe Denison and gained a daughter, Megan I. Denison on March 25, 1989.
Mike was a 1969 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School. Mike graduated in 1975 from SIU Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and minors in Manufacturing Engineering and Industrial Design. He also obtained his commercial real estate license. During the ice storm of 1978, Mike began his contracting business, D & A Builders. He was the owner and operator until 1986. At that time, he began his career with Sherwin-Williams and retired with them as an Industrial Coatings Representative.
Mike loved and excelled at sports. In his early years, he was an avid racquetball, football, baseball, and basketball player. He was always ready for the challenge of billiards or a pinball game. Later he began golfing, was given the nickname “Big Bertha”, and was a member of the Fab Four. Mike enjoyed canoeing all of the rivers in the Midwest. He and Donna took many trips to the Current, Jacks Fork, and Courtois. In their later years Mike, Donna and their daughter, Megan, enjoyed the peaceful life on their property and pond along with their Westies, Bella and Gabby. They loved to kayak, swim, fish, host parties, family gatherings or just enjoy the scenery on their pond. Mike was a very good friend to many and willing to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed sharing and drinking a good bourbon. He loved all kinds of music including blues, classic rock, and his favorite jazz singer was the late Rachael Lee. Mike was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and Decatur Cancer Care Brain Tumor Support Group.
He leaves his best friend and loving wife Donna; daughter, Megan Denison of Chicago; his parents, Ron and Gwen; brothers: Steve (Kathy) and Tim (Tricia Hanson) of Decatur; sisters, Jane (Ron) Blankenship of Long Creek and Kathy (Mike) Lowery of Champaign, mother-in-law Rosalie Roethe Howe of Latham; sister-in-law, Linda (Larry) Roberts of Corona del Mar, CA, brother-in-law, Randy Howe of Charlotte, NC; step-sister-in-laws, Kathy Holdman of Bonne Terre, MO and Connie (Mike) Smith of Shannon.; many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He was reunited with his in-laws, Eileen and Everett “Popeye” Howe, grandparents, Helene and Howard McClughen, Herbert and Edna Altherr, as well as three of his favorite Westies: Kelsey, Angie, and Gunner.
The family of Mike Altherr would like to recognize Doctors Hima Atluri, Sebsatien Kairouz, Harold Yoon, and Mohammed A. Rahman. In addition, we would like to thank DMH Hospice and special nurse friends, Alison and Lynette in the infusion center at Decatur‘s Cancer Care. We are very grateful to all the friends and family that have given us support during this difficult time. Mike said it best when times got tough, “Might as well eat ice cream.”
Services to celebrate Mike’s life will be on Sunday, May 17th at the Decatur Club 158 W Prairie Ave, Decatur at 1 p.m. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 16th, in Moran & Goebel Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials can be made to Decatur Earthmovers Credit Union Mike Altherr Memorial for the Amanda Quisenberry Transportation Fund, Westie Rescue of Missouri/ Illinois, Inc. or Cancer Care Specialist of Central IL, Decatur-for the caregiver chairs in the infusion lab.
The family of Michael “Mike” Altherr is being served by Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2801 N. Monroe Street, Decatur, IL. View the on line obituary and send condolences to the family at www.moranandgoebel.com
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