Michael Keith DURHAM

DURHAM, CASTLER, LAGER, COMAN, STARK, MILLER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/7/2007 at 20:32:40

Wright County Monitor

Michael Keith Durham, 40, passed away Friday, May 18, 2007. A Memorial Mass was held Saturday, May 26th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Father Harry McAlpine officiated the service. A private family interment was held at St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion with Father Chris Podhajsky officiating.

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Funeral services for Michael Keith Durham Sr., 40, of Spencer, formerly of Clarion, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 26, 2007, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Spencer. Revs. Ed Murray and Harry McAlpine will co-officiate the service. The family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer. A Catholic Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. A private family burial will take place St. John's Cemetery of Clarion on Saturday afternoon.

Michael passed away Friday, May 18, 2007, along Highway 18 in Spencer in a tragic car accident in which he drowned. Michael was born May 26, 1966, in San Diego, Calif. He graduated from Adolpho Camarillo High School in 1984. The special delights of his life were the two precious children born during his marriage to Dawn Castler. Michael Keith, Jr., was born in 1988 and Heather Nicole in 1990. As a youth and teenager Michael was a gifted athlete that shown brightly in track, soccer and baseball. Michael's passion for the ocean and fishing led him to experiences working on fishing boats and he soon became a Second Captain. He sailed in and around the waters of Southern California including the surrounding islands. His exploits of fishing, extraordinary skills with knot tying, prowess in filleting and ability to catch fish with no bait will forever be remembered by those that had the privilege to fish with him.

Michael and his family moved to Goldfield in 1993. Using his skills as a title searcher Michael worked in Clarion until the seriousness of his mental illness resulted in his moving to live with his parents in California and some years later on to Spencer. Michael recently completed training as a Peer Support Specialist and was looking forward to using his skills and personal experience to help others with the challenges of mental illness. These past five years Mike could be found most weekdays from 12-3 p.m. at "Just Friends."

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, John and Esther Lager; and paternal grandparents, Virgil and Signa Durham. Michael is survived by his children: Michael and Heather of Clarion; his father and mother, Sid and Jean Durham of Spencer; sisters: Theresa Coman and husband, John of Granville, N.Y., and Monica Stark of Spencer, Cecilia Miller of Emmetsburg; and brother, Timothy Durham and wife, Beverly of Palm Bay, Fla.

Memorials may be made to "Just Friends" or to a mental health charity of your choice. Warner Funeral Home of Spencer is in charge of arrangements.

Spencer Daily Reporter, Iowa
May 23, 2007