I remember what's in about a month or so of meeting Mike back in the Thanksgiving of 1990, we took a trip to toronto. That's my first time to toronto. He just gotten out of a divorce. And it was the day after christmas. I never went there on a train. We took Amtrak from East Lansing to toronto. That was when they still had service there. And we stayed at a decent hotel and the next day we went out exploring toronto. And then we stayed up that night and had one too many. We missed the train back to East Lansing the next day. So we added another day to our trip. And we had a good time.

I definitely remember Mike. I was a friend of Mike's from back in the day. I met Mike around Thanksgiving 1990. I remember I was lonely at the time when I was 20 years old. I remember he liked food a lot and would indulge in it frequently. He took me to places like Day Break CAfe in downtown Lansing, Eddie's Chinese restaurant on East Michigan Avenue near Emils. He liked the Parthanon. He and I shared an interest in Theio's on East Michigan Avenue. Everytime I went to Lansing after moving to Chicago, we would visit Theios and he loved the rice pudding there. I remember he and I took an Amtrak train to Toronto after Christmas 1990. I also lived in Mike's house on Jerome Street with Bill Kennedy from Summer 1991 to early Winter 1992, when I moved to Chicago. I came back to Lansing to visit quite frequently.  I also remember the "have a wonderful Republican day" comment on his answering machine.

Mike gave comfort - and received comfort through his gentle touch at the keyboard.  He loved to play!   I remember him as quite a good tenor, too, when he joined the Resurrection choir for awhile. He even tackled Responsorial Psalms - a considerable memorization task, what with all the tunes AND all the words.  A very courageous and decent man whose answering machine instructed us to "Have a great Republican day!"  I was sorry to have missed his funeral.  I didn't know he had died and I wish comfort to all who were his friends and family.

Jim and I extend our sincere condolences to all who mourn Mike's passing into eternal life.  We also thank all who helped him navigate life's journey including his beloved "seeing-eye" dog.  

Mike was a devoted Catholic who regularly prayed the Holy Rosary and attended Mass frequently, if not daily, if he could.  He also provided encouragement and practical help to those in need.

Mike told us that sometime ago he sat down at a piano and pounded away.  I say pounded because he didn't really know how to play the piano and had no reason to believe he had musical aptitude.  However, God had a surprise in store for Mike.   Almost immediately recognizable tunes formed under his fingers and within no time flat he began sharing his newly acquired musical talent.  He became a regular fixture at the piano in the Sparrow Hospital cafe area.  He played and sometimes sang inspiring and comforting tunes to uplift spirits and give struggling and suffering people hope and others renewed faith.  He brought to life Psalm 40:3 - "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him."

Most significantly, Mike demonstrated his deep love of God, especially Jesus truly present in the EUCHARIST.  When adoration at Resurrection was threatened to be discontinued due to so few visitors, Mike made the personal commitment to stay with Our Eucharistic Lord from the beginning to the end of every day adoration was offered.  He kept that promise for years. 

A saint (whose name I can't recall) once said that Christ sometimes permits his dear ones to experience suffering which was likened to "Christ's kiss".  It is a mystery but Christ can and does save souls through redemptive suffering.  I pray that Jesus show mercy to Mike and join Mike's sufferings with Christ's for the salvation of souls.  Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

My future spouse and I want to extend our condolences to Mike Gillenkirk's family. He was a mentor when I was growing up through the church  community at the Church of the Resurrection.  He was always friendly, and a positive influence on me.
May God Bless you, and may He also hold Michael Gillenkirk in His loving hands. 
    Sincerely,
Andrew Earley and Catherine Anton

OBITUARY

Michael Joesph Gillenkirk

7 October, 1943 – 2 July, 2024

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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