Martin "Mike" C. Kelsey III

     Martin “Mike” Cyrus Kelsey III, 57, of Sturgeon Bay, fell asleep in the loving arms of his family at home and awoke in the arms of the Lord, Saturday morning, January 4, 2020.

     He was born February 12, 1962 in Sturgeon Bay, the son of Martin “Mike” Cyrus, Jr. and Sheila (Haggerty) Kelsey. Mike graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School with the Class of 1980. He was united in marriage to Jeannine Marie Collins on August 4, 1984 at Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.

     Mike and Jeannine owned and operated the Boathouse in Racine in the late 1980s. They returned home to Sturgeon Bay in 1989. Together with family he formed a chapter of the “Bay Shore Mafia”. As the “Don” he held regular sunset meetings around his fire pit near the Bay where he toasted the day’s blessings with his favorite glass of bourbon. Mike and Jeannine owned and operated Oliver Station in Sturgeon Bay. Like his father, Mike’s primary employment was with Palmer Johnson Yachts where he was President, although Mike would say he was “just a floor sweeper”. While he was based in Sturgeon Bay, he represented Palmer Johnson worldwide. Mike was a past commodore of the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. He was an active member of St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay and served on the board of St. Joseph School.  He loved helping in the kitchen for the Lenten and Fall fish fries at church.

     Mike and Jeannine were blessed with over 35 years of marriage and seven children who meant the world to him. Mike loved his family more than anything. He liked tractors (and really, all things old with wheels). Mike had a love for sailing and boating. He enjoyed walking with his group at the Door County YMCA. Mike also liked to go snowmobiling and ice fishing. He supported local stock car racing at The Hill and appreciated vintage cars. Music was an important part of Mike’s life, and he sang in the bands Dow Jones, Chrome Alley, and GLAS HAMR. He had an exceptional memory. A favorite pastime was communicating worldwide on his Ham radios.

     Mike will live on in the hearts of his wife, Jeannine; children, Martin (Tiffany), Palmer, Henry, Arthur, Walter, Merrill, and Shelby Kelsey; granddaughters, Evelynn and Eleanor Kelsey; mother, Sheila Turner of Sturgeon Bay, WI; siblings, Beatrice (Larry) Stein of Windermere, FL, Barbara (Mark) McIntire of Sartell, MN, Peggy (Mike Teich) Kelsey of Whitefish Bay, WI, Brian (Philip Berndt) Kelsey of Fish Creek, WI, Kathryn Turner of Los Angeles, CA, and Elizabeth Kelsey of Portland, OR; stepmother, Margaret Kelsey of Portland, OR; step siblings, Gary (Linda) Mihaley of South Salem, NY and James Mihaley of Los Angeles, CA; siblings-in-law, Steve (Michelle) and Scott Collins, both of Green Bay, WI; mother-in-law, Saundra Collins, Green Bay, WI; nieces, nephews, and other relatives; and many dear friends.

     He was preceded in death by his father, Martin C. Kelsey, Jr. and stepfather, Scotty Turner as well as his father-in-law, Irv Collins.

     Mike’s life will be honored with a Mass of Resurrection celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay with Fr. Robert Stegmann as celebrant. Mike will be laid to rest in the Bayside Cemetery columbarium at a later date.

     Visitation for family and friends will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay. There will be no visitation prior to Mass.

     Memorials may be given in Mike’s name for the Kelsey Children’s Fund at Nicolet Bank, 236 N. 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235.

     “Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Door County Cancer Center and Door County Medical Center for the care given to Mike, and to all of our friends and community members for your prayers and support.”

     “hashtaterbayshoremafia, You stand relieved, we have the watch”. -Your Crew

     Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Mike may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Martin "Mike" C. Kelsey III, please visit our floral store.