Michael Ryan Zuidema

Mike was born on December 21, 1940, in Muskegon, Michigan, to William and Cleo (Blakely) Zuidema. After graduating from Muskegon Catholic Central High School class of 1958, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in forestry from Michigan Tech University. Following college, he worked as a forester in South Dakota and Munising. In the late 60s, his family moved to Escanaba where he started his long and successful career with the DNR retiring in 1997. On December 29, 1990, Mike married Denna (Kumkoski) at St Anne’s Church in Escanaba.

Mike (husband, dad, pa, grandpa, Iron Mike) was full of life. Anyone who knew Mike knew his way of showing he loved you was a quick jab to the arm and a big smile. He loved camp, hockey, hunting, cougars, and most of all, his family. “Coach Z” was involved in Escanaba hockey for over 50 years as a player and a coach for all levels. He was honored as Michigan hockey coach of the year in 2018 for his efforts to create opportunities for all ages and levels to play. He and his father built the “Camp Many Z’s” hunting camp where family and friends made years of memories of filling the buck pole (most years) and playing poker and “grandpa guts” as he called it. His children and grandchildren will continue his legacy and continue to call BS and bring in the big bucks. All around camp, Mike planted a forest of trees in honor of all of his children and grandchildren each marked with their names. Mike was known as the cougar man in the U.P. He was one of the first to recognize the presence of cougars in the U.P. He would investigate and document sightings and wrote many articles on the subject. Mike and Denna attended St. Anne’s Church and participated in adoration at OSF every Monday. He loved to sing at church and with the Remnants barbershop chorus. He taught his children and grandchildren the art of playfulness. He was kind, silly, yet fierce to protect his family or those in need.

He is survived by his wife, Denna Zuidema of Escanaba; his children, Andy (Jill) Zuidema of Campobello, S.C., Jody (Paul) Meyers Traverse City, Jim (Kristin) Zuidema of Sherwood, Wis., Kile (Mary) Zuidema of Escanaba, Margie Schafer of Gladstone, Kelly (Robert) LaMarche of Escanaba, and Mike (Taylor) Zuidema of Indianapolis, Ind.; stepson, James (Kathleen) Sawaski of Newberry; grandchildren, Alyssa, Cal, Jay, Halle, Charles, Emma, Robin, Jesse, Josie, Gracie, Sergei, Brooklyn, Gunnar, Nellie, Henry, RJ; great-grandchildren, Leo and Aspen; sister, Joyce Kelley of Muskegon and brother Larry (Alma) Sayer of Muskegon, mother-in-law, Catherine Kumkoski; brother and sister-in-law, Michael, James, Mark, and Thomas Kumkoski and Susan (Skip) Jacobsen, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law Joe Schafer, his siblings, Jim, Bill, Doug Zuidema, Marilee Myler, and father-in-law Marvin Kumkoski.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 30 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home in Escanaba. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 5 p.m. at St. Anne’s Church with Rev. Fran DeGroot officiating. A meal will follow in the church hall.

Burial will take place in Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Eskymo Blue Line Club, P.O. Box 150, Escanaba, MI 49829 or EAJHA PO Box 150, Escanaba, MI 49829. A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net . The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the family.