Michael J. “Mike” Olma, 69, of Albion died as a result of an accident while mowing his lawn at his home Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Friends may call at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 303 S. Hillsdale Street, Homer, Michigan, 49245 Tuesday, August 29, 2023, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. where the Elks Lodge of Sorrow will be held at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. led by Deacon Ken Snyder of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church.
There will also be a time of gathering at 10:00 a.m. before the Memorial Mass which will be celebrated at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 1020 Irwin Avenue, Albion, Michigan, 49224 Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Joseph Gray celebrating the Mass, assisted by Deacon John Wielgos of St. Mary’s Assumption Church of Bronson, MI.
Mike was born on August 4, 1954, in Coldwater to Irene (Fenner) Olma and John Charles Olma. Irene was widowed prior to Mike’s birth when Mike’s father John died as the result of a heart problem.
Mike gained a father when his mother remarried to Juel “Joe” Weigt, who always raised Mike as his own son and Mike considered him his father.
He grew up in Batavia, attending St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School there through the eighth grade. Mike then attended Bronson High School from where he graduated in 1972. He first went to Ferris State University and returned to finish his education at Kellogg Community College for a semester.
Mike had decided his life’s work would be caring for people through funeral service. After KCC he moved to Nashville where he attended the John A. Gupton Mortuary College while living at and interning at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home in Nashville. He graduated from John A. Gupton in June of 1976.
Mike was married to Jaclin S. “Jackie” Bluhm on Jun 12, 1976, in Bronson at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, managing to accomplish this most important part of his life one week before his graduation from mortuary college!
The couple started their married life and Mike’s life of service by then moving to Adrian where he cared for families at the Everiss Funeral Home (later Everiss-Wagley Funeral Home). After several years they moved north in the state to live in Riverdale where Mike continued his career in funeral service with Schnepp Funeral Homes. In 1989 the Olma’s moved their family to Albion, where Mike and Jackie have lived since. Mike served Albion area families for many years as a funeral director for Tidd-Williams Funeral Homes in Albion, Homer, and Parma.
Later in life, Mike worked at Albion Industries until working in customer service for Secure Investors – Murray, Tymkew, and Associates where he still enjoyed helping the people of Albion today…and even in death Mike continues to give as a Gift of Life Donor!
Mike was an active contributing member of the Albion community. He was a member of Albion Elks Lodge #1798 where he was very active over the years both as a lodge officer/board member and a “worker-bee”! He was a member of Albion Eagles Lodge #1265 and Marshall Moose Lodge #676.
He was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church and a member of St. John Catholic Church in Albion. Mike was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a fourth degree Knight.
He enjoyed woodworking, reading, and keeping family court in his recliner! Mike was a voracious reader finishing one book then going on to the next. He was an accomplished handyman who was skilled with electrical work!
His beloved grandchildren were his world now, with spending any time with them being his loving priority and enjoyment!
Mike is survived by his beloved family, his wife, Jackie Olma of Albion with whom he enjoyed 47 years of a truly loving life partnership; their children, John (Jessica) Olma of Ypsilanti, Kristin (Jason) Cox of Marshall, and Kelli (Megan Gould) Olma of Portage; their beloved six grandchildren, Lauren and Jillian Olma, Jaylynn and Nicolas Cox, and Alyssa and Carter Gould; Mike’s two brothers, Ed (Garnetta) Weigt of Bronson and Steve (Kathy) Weigt of Coldwater; his sisters-in-law, Julie Bluhm of Bronson, Janie (Craig) Lesinski of Traverse City, Janet Lewis of Coldwater and Joni Jeffrey of Bronson; his brother-in-law, Robert (Kristin) Bluhm of East Leroy; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by both of his fathers, John C. Olma and Juel “Joe” Weigt; his mother, Irene Weigt; his maternal grandparents, Earl and Ila Fenner; his paternal grandparents, Charles and Elsa Olma and Edmund and Adeline Weigt; his father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Howard and Genevieve Bluhm; and brother-in-law, Lyle “Bob” Jeffrey.
The family suggests those who wish to make a memorial contribution to either Elks Lodge 1798, 10725 28 Mile Road, Albion, MI 49224, (517) 629-9450 or St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, 1020 Irwin Avenue, Albion, Michigan, 49224, (517) 629-4532, https://www.stjohn-church.org/ .
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Homer, MI.
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