MOILANEN, MICHAEL
“All this exercise—all this time—killed by stoppage!”
-Mike Moilanen (nearto-last words)
Former Rosebush school teacher and Ultra-marathon Man: Michael Wayne Moilanen (76), passed away peacefully on August 9th, 2022 after a short illness. He was at home in Romulus, Michigan, with his daughter by his side. For 23 years, Mike Moilanen was not only one of the most popular and memorable teachers amongst the students at Rosebush Elementary, but also a steadfast thorn in the side of the administration. When asked why Mike wanted to be a teacher, he always explained: “I just wanted to teach the way I wish I would have been taught.” by his students in classrooms in Michigan; Australia; Nevada; and Arizona. The latter includes a one-room school atop Mt. Lemmon and teaching Indigenous Peoples of the Tohono O’odham Nation near the Mexican border. Michael was born in Pontiac, Michigan on October 25th 1945. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 1967 with a B. S. Degree with majors in Elementary Education and Science, and minor in Geography. As a young boy, he was told he might not walk again after a knee injury, which makes what Moilanen was able to accomplish even more amazing. An avid runner since 1972, he only started keeping track in 1975. By the data left behind, Moilanen has logged running miles the equivalent distance of SIX TIMES the circumference of the earth! That’s roughly 149,400 miles in a lifetime of exercise in the form of: Marathons, multi-day races, treadmill, walking, and hiking. Sometimes Mike would run to Rosebush School from his Mt. Pleasant home teach all day - then run home again! When asked “WHY?’ he just said: “Running is fun and it’s an his life, Yvonne Marie (Reynolds) Moilanen in 1967. Michael is survived by his children: Monica Moilanen-brawley (daughter); Eric Moilanen (son); Robert (Demetria) Moilanen (son), grandchildren: Sydney Yvonne 33 (Chris) Havens (Alaska); Alex Groat 27 (Los Angeles, CA); Grady Moilanen 21 (Michigan); Ilona Brawley 11 (Northern Ireland); Gabriel Moilanen 2 and Raphael Moilanen 3 months (Michigan); brother: David Clark (Cindy) Moilanen (Arizona). Michael is preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne Marie (Reynolds) Moilanen; parents, Wayne and Jean (Quinn) Moilanen; fourth wife Kelly Kathleen (Taylor) Moilanen; and his youngest brother, Kurt Edwin (Karen) Moilanen (Lake Orion, MI). In to Mike, the family would like to challenge you to run or walk a 5k in the next year! A private funeral has already taken place. To sign the online guest book or leave a condolence for the family please visit www.charlesrlux.com. www.charelsrlux.com