Michael 'Mike' D. Stiver

Mike Stiver passed away peacefully at his home in Somerset, WI, on June 19, 2026, at the age of 70, after a final week of joy with his family. Mike was born in Merrill, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1956, and he lived in Merrill for most of his life, eventually meeting and marrying Amy Lemon.

For Mike, family wasn’t just a part of his life—it was his entire universe. For 39 beautiful years, he shared a life with his beloved wife, Amy. Mike loved being married to Amy. They had so much fun together raising a family, creating a home, traveling, and living out their vows.

Together, they raised three children who were his pride and joy: Rachel, Paul, and Sam. One of the greatest honors of Mike’s life was adopting and raising Rachel as his own daughter, sharing a bond built on fierce love and a healthy dose of their shared stubbornness. Paul is his firstborn son. When Paul was born, Mike strutted around the bar proudly—and that's how he lived his whole life, celebrating his children as blessings from God. Sam came last and held perhaps the most tender place in Mike’s heart, which was evident in the way Mike always had his back.

Mike worked in maintenance for much of his career and thrived at using his mechanical intelligence. He loved his co-workers and showed that by sharing his time in and outside work with them, mentoring and passing on his knowledge, and being a hard worker. But his career, intelligence, and incredible work ethic weren’t his motivation. What motivated Mike was what came at the end of his 15-minute drive home (he was speeding): his wife and kids. He loved his family, and doing what it took to support them was what fueled him. Witnessing Mike support his family was to see him in his sweet spot. There are countless stories of his care, consideration, and willingness to do whatever it took for his family that have left an indelible mark on our lives.

Mike was a charismatic and warm man. One of his most beautiful qualities was his rare ability to open up and make friends with anyone. His generous spirit overflowed in the way he brought people together, most notably through sports. In his younger years, an avid love and skill for foosball helped him forge a tight circle of lifelong friends. As a father, he was ever-present for his kids and their diverse interests, proudly coaching their youth sports—from Little League to softball to soccer. His love of sport naturally extended to his children, who all cheer endlessly for Wisconsin teams and especially the Green Bay Packers. Whether bonding over a recent game or hosting his memorable Fourth of July parties in Merrill, Mike used sports and his knack at conversation to build a loving community full of laughter and belonging around him.

In his retirement years, Mike and Amy moved to Somerset, WI, to be present in their grandchildren's lives. Mike was gifted at many things, but he was born to be a grandpa. He flourished in loving his grandsons. He loved chasing them around, encouraging them, and teaching them about fishing, sports, life, and how to eat ice cream. It is almost inexpressible the ways that seeing his grandchildren grow before him filled his heart and brought him joy.

Finally, Mike loved and trusted God. Although he didn’t always understand God’s ways, Mike was a prayerful and thoughtful man and trusted the “man upstairs” with even the most difficult things in life. For all these reasons and many more, we will deeply miss him. We are thankful for his life, and his legacy will live on through his faith and his family.

Mike is preceded in death by his mother, Carol (Lambrecht), and his father, Bernard. Mike is survived by his wife Amy, daughter Rachel, sons Paul (Allison) and Sam (Javi), grandsons Chase and Brooks, and his siblings: Joanne (Mark) Bronsteatter, Deb (and the late Nick) Mattson, Mary (Carl) Moscherosch, and Dan (Martina) Stiver.

A funeral remembrance will take place in Merrill, WI, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mike’s name to the Special Olympics of Minnesota or to your local animal nonprofit.