Michael B. Sunclades Sr 1948-2012

SUNCLADES GRAZIS POTTEBAUM

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/11/2012 at 19:46:49

Sioux City Journal
February 10, 2012

SIOUX CITY -- Michael B. Sunclades Sr., Capt. USAF (Ret.), 64, of Bellevue, Neb., formerly of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at a hospital near Bellevue of heart and lung failure.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bellevue, with the Rev. Denney officiating. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, where he will be interred beside his beloved daughter, Brenda. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today, with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Bellevue Memorial Chapel, 2202 Hancock St., in Bellevue.

Mike was born Jan. 17, 1948, in Montebello, Calif., to Bren and Irene (Grazis) Sunclades. The family moved back to Sioux City in 1949. He attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and Bishop Heelan High School before transferring to SC East High. He graduated from East High School in 1966. Mike started working at his grandmother's restaurant, The Fiesta Cafe, as a boy. When it closed in the early 1960s, he cooked at the Big Wheel restaurant, where he met his wife, Joyce Pottebaum.

They were married in 1967. They had two children, Mike Jr. and Brenda. Brenda was diagnosed with leukemia while in high school and died in 1991 at the age of 19.

Capt. Sunclades joined the U.S. Air Force in 1967, where he learned computers while they were still new. While in the Air Force, he received many commendations including Airman of the Year at Dyess AFB. He started college as a young airman and graduated from Texas Lutheran College in 1985. He then went through Officer Candidate School at the age of 37 and became an officer. He retired in 1992 as a captain. After retirement, he joined First National Bank of Nebraska. He became a bank officer and had an office high up in the Omaha tower.

Mike was an avid bowler, maintaining a 210-plus average. He had just rolled his first 300 a few weeks before his death. His last series was 700. He loved to spend time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren and his brother, Tony, and his wife, Angela, playing pinochle and poker. He loved his Dallas Cowboys and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joyce; his son, Mike Jr. and his wife, Virginia; grandchildren, Jessica, Michael III, Amanda and Christina and her husband, John Morton; three great-grandchildren, Victoria, Donovan and Timothy; his brother, Tony, and his wife, Angela; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda; and his parents.