Michael Leon Mileski

When Michael Leon Mileski walked into the room, those in his company felt a palpable energy. This was just one of many qualities Mike had and how he impacted those around him. He was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if he wanted to share in all of their experiences, revel in their lives, and celebrate their discoveries. Mike was tireless and seemed to have a boundless enthusiasm that served him well throughout his life.

Growing up for Mike was like one big burst of spontaneity personified. He would join in with friends and family in just about anything. This made his life quite interesting and led to what would be a wide variety of memories. Mike was born on December 18, 1958. He first greeted the world in Los Angeles, California at Queen of Angels Hospital. His parents were Leon and Roberta Mileski. He grew up in Southgate, California. Mike had a great sense of humor and was a natural entertainer, able to keep the people around him amused with stories and tales. While some who knew Mike might have described him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that he was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities.

Mike was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in his family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, he was typically the person who tried to bring resolution and harmony. This quality, along with his quick wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of people were traits that drew the admiration of others and served Mike well in his adult life. He was raised with an older brother, Mark.

Even as a young boy, Mike was able to empathize and identify with many different kinds of people. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. He was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. He enjoyed playing sports as a youngster, especially baseball. An active child, he belonged to the Cub Scouts, Indian Guides and Boy Scouts. While growing up, some of Mike's best friends were Mark Zess, Scott Zess, Chip Zess, Russ Hawkins and Jordan Palmer. Later in live, he became friends with Lance Collup.

During his high school years, Mike responded enthusiastically to any new project and was normally in search of one adventure after another. Mike attended Southgate High School, Southgate, California. He was a very good student, and generally did well in his courses. Mike absorbed as much as he could from all of his teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems using his imagination to master his assignments. For him, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to his ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Mike a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to him to discuss just about anything.

Mike was uplifted by new ideas. New possibilities always seemed to excite him. These were traits which made him an exceptional worker. Mike’s primary occupation was Truck Driver. Though Mike didn’t go out of his way to seek out personal accolades, they seemed to just naturally come to him. Like in other aspects of his life, Mike was able to make friends easily in the workplace.

Mike loved to have a broad variety of activities in his life, and he pursued numerous hobbies. Mike's favorite pursuits were motorcycle riding, model airplanes, radio controlled cars and fishing. He had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes. However, Mike's ever-present concern for others always took precedent. He enjoyed many things throughout his life. Mike derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. His charisma, supportive nature, and ability to help all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. Recreational sports included Enduro Racing. He also enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Nascar Racing and Moto and Super Cross.

Mike was a man who was devoted to his faith. Mike was a member of St. Emydius Catholic Church for 18 years. He was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and he used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for his beliefs.

Mike enjoyed getting away and some of his favorite vacations included camping, bike riding and fishing. He also had a love for animals. his favorite dog was an Old English Mastif, named Squire, who was his best friends for almost 7 years. He also had two cats, Midnight and Snow Ball and a Pug named Sadie.

Mike passed away on May 3, 2011, at his home in Moreno Valley, California. Mike fought a brave battle against cancer. He was preceded in death by his father, Leon. He is survived by his mother, Roberta and his brother, Mark. Services were 10:00 AM, Friday, May 13, 2011, at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church, 1234 Palm Ave, Beaumont, California. Arrangements were entrusted to Weaver Mortuary, 1177 Beaumont Ave., Beaumont, California.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Mike. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative, and witty. For others, he was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, many others looked to him for inspiration, leadership, wisdom, and even courage. Michael Leon Mileski was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with those he loved.