If you are reading this, it means that my beloved husband of 56, close to 57 years has died.

Mike was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 18, 1945 to Richard Ross Chisholm and Dorothy "Dottie" Helen Haen. Shortly after that they moved to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. He grew up attending St. Joseph Catholic Church and Parochial School in Sturgeon Bay. Mike graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School with the class of 1963. After graduating, he sailed for a year on the Great Lakes. He quit after a year, and Uncle Sam immediately drafted him. He ended up in the Army and was deployed to Vietnam. Mike served in Vietnam for a year from 1966 until 1967. His unit was the 551 Transportation Terminal, 71st Transportation Battalion. While serving his country, he came into contact with Agent Orange. This was used as a defoliant in the jungles. Mike would say “I watched them drop this orange 's**t' on the trees”. This exposure was to be the reason he came down with Parkinson’s dementia in later years and consequently the cause of his death.

On return from Vietnam, he met me (Barbara Ann Jelaine Englebert), his future wife, at Haase’s, a beer drinking establishment available for eighteen-year-olds. I was a nursing school student at the time and couldn’t help but notice this good-looking young man leaning up against the bar. He looked just like one of the “Beach Boys.” We were introduced by a mutual friend, and the rest is history. I married Mike on July 12, 1969 at St. Hubert Catholic Church in Rosiere. We have three sons: Ross, Mark, and Chris.

Mike was a larger-than-life individual who demonstrated his love for family and friends by making sure everyone always had food in one hand and a beverage in the other. He had a quick mind and was able to tell an endless list of jokes. Mike was able to help everyone who couldn’t remember the name of the group or year of a specific song. He completed daily cross word puzzles and loved beating me at cribbage. We went to each of our children’s sporting events. Mike was known for making lunches for the kids to take to track meets. When I would go to work at the hospital, the staff would be happy, as they knew that Mike would be bringing in peanut squares, chocolate, etc. I had a Christmas party for staff, and Mike always supplied a gag gift. Like anyone could use a 10-pound can of corn or an ugly leftover Halloween toy rat. What a sense of humor!

Mike had a gift of “gab” which made him an excellent salesman. He sold many things over the years. His last job was working as a docent at Cana Island Lighthouse, just north of Baileys Harbor, a job he truly loved. Mike and I went on many bus trips, and both of us loved to go antiquing. He was also a member of the Sturgeon Bay Kiwanis Club for many years and also served as president of the club. His love of sports made him an obvious volunteer to be athletic director of the sports program for the parochial schools while his children were attending St. Joseph. When I got to nursing school, my friends found a new brother. He happily carted them around Oshkosh or Sturgeon Bay.

The love of my life died late Saturday night, May 16, 2026 at Cherry Cove Assisted Living & Memory Care in Sturgeon Bay. He was a resident there for a little over two years. Parkinson's slowly took over his body and mind. It was a terrible journey, and I don’t wish it on my worst enemy. This is when you know the value of family and friends. Fortunately, I was blessed with a wonderful family and an abundance of friends. Thank you to Dave Demelle and Phil Johnson for their regular visits to see their old friend. I also want to thank the caregivers at Cherry Cove, especially Angie, Heather, Christine, and Ellie as well as the caregivers of Compassus Hospice, Crystle and Danielle. Thank you everyone.

THE WAR FINALLY GOT HIM!!

Aside from me, Mike will be missed by our sons, Ross (Vicki) Chisholm of Appleton, Mark (Beth) Chisholm of Sturgeon Bay, and Christopher (Rachel) Chisholm of Suamico; grandchildren, Kathryn, Samantha, and Ryan Chisholm; and his brother-in-law, Archiles "Arky" (Judith "Judy") Englebert of Two Rivers [and their daughter, Adrienne (Kamin) Mahoney and their son, Samuel].

He was preceded in death by his parents; many aunts and uncles; and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at Huehns Funeral Home, 1414 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 with Fr. Anthony Birdsall officiating. Military Honors by the United States Army and the Weber-Tess AMVETS Post 51 will follow at the funeral home. Mike will be laid to rest in St. Michael Cemetery in Misere.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at the funeral home on Friday, June 5, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026.

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

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael "Mike" Ross Chisholm, please visit our floral store.