1956 – 2019
Michael or Mike, as he was known by family and friends, was born September 30, 1956, to Carl H. J. and Rita (Pianalto) Antholz. The 4th of 12 children, he grew up on a farm just west of McDonald. Growing up he participated in 4-H, high school sports: basketball, track and most important football. He also found FFA to be an important activity to him. Mike graduated from McDonald High School in 1973 and then attended Northwest Kansas Vo-Tech in Goodland for auto mechanics.
Following school he worked a number of jobs while still living in McDonald including farming, driving school bus, working as an electrician's assistant and also working at a feedlot.
On October 14, 1978, he married Margyre Sue Sanders. On August 18, 1981, he became the proud father of Bridgette Desiree, daughter and only child born to the union. In 1982, the family moved to St Francis while Mike was still working for the feedlot. In 1983, he began a 30 year career as a heavy equipment operator for the Cheyenne County Road and Bridge Department ending in 2013. During this time he also served as and EMT for the Cheyenne County EMS for over 10 years.
Things Mike enjoyed included beekeeping, hunting and fishing with family and friends, refereeing basketball with his brother Eric and he was a member of the McDonald Lions Club. In more recent years he was very active in Knights of Columbus: he was the local Grand Knight, District Deputy, a 4th Degree Knight and member of the honor guard and in 2007 received the prestigious award of State Knight of the Year. He was also active in the Catholic Church serving on the church council, as Eucharistic Minister, greeter and more. Football was always a love of Mike's even when he was no longer able to play. He organized the St Francis Fantasy Football League or SFFFL where he served as commissioner for over 20 years and, until his recent illness, never missed an NFL game.
(When Bridgette's close friend Holly had her daughter Jordyn in December of 2003, the 2 of them became very close...she called him Grandpa Mike and she was his only granddaughter. They spent many a day together when she was young...watching football together, eating out together, took her for rides in the car, birthday parties and more. He even waited to leave this earthly world until she was there with him.)
Mike passed away on November 14, 2019 at age 63, at University Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, following a long battle with his health.
He is survived by wife, Margyre; daughter, Bridgette; brother-in-law Francis (Phyllis) Sanders Jr.; sister-in-law Janice (Larry) Cyphers; sister-in-law Babs Antholz; brother Eric (Melody) Antholz; Sisters: Cecilia (Ben) Rasmussen; Kathy (Curt) Russell; Sylvia (Dave) Hubbard; Ann Parcel; Barb (Rod) Murphy; Mary (Leon) Volk; Lisa (Mark) Mertens; Joan (Phil) Grace and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He is preceded in death by parents Carl and Rita Antholz; brother Herman; sister Susan; and brother-in-law Duane Parcel.
A Memorial Mass for Mike will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 10:30 AM CT at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bird City with Fr. Joseph Asirvatham and Fr. Carlos Ruiz officiating. Private family inurnment will be held in the St. Francis Cemetery, St. Francis, KS.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM CT with a Vigil and Rosary service to begin at 7:00 PM CT at the Church in Bird City.
Memorials may be designated to the Mike Antholz Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.