Michael James Isham

Michael was proceeded in death by his father James Neil Isham, his mother Jacqueline Jean Isham, his brother Andrew William Isham, and his son Jason Robert Isham.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife of thirty-five years, Kathleen “Kathy” Isham, and his former wife of ten years, Sharon Carry, the dearly loved and respected stepmother of his three children, and his first wife, the mother of his children, Donna Jean “Jeannie” Pratt. Michael is also survived by his son Matthew Mark Isham, who lives in Bremerton Washington and his daughter Jennifer Jean Gardner, who lives in Pasco, Washington.

Mike has been blessed with eighteen grandchildren from many sources. His son Matthew has two sons: Mark and Mitchell. His daughter Jenny has a daughter Dana and a son Brenden. When Jenny married her true love, Jeff, he brought his son, Brandt, into the marriage. The boys were just a few months apart, and became best friends as well as brothers. Mike’s deceased son, Jason, had four children: Treston, Brayden, Jasmyn, and Dominic.

Kathy’s youngest daughter, Denise, had five children: Elijah “Eli”, Hannah, Emmalee “Emma”, Zachary “Zack” and Abigail “Abby”.

Kathy’s oldest daughter Lisa and her husband Bill wanted a family, but they struggled with infertility. They adopted four children out of foster care: Austin, Kevin, Christine “Chrissie” and Jennifer “Jennie”.

Mike was amazed, and often said, “The grandchildren just keep coming. I never thought we would be blessed with so many.

Mike enlisted in the US Army in January, 1967. His total active service was two years and six months, from January, 1967 to August, 1969. He completed the US Naval School of Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) in August, 1967 in Greensboro, Pennsylvania. He served one year in Vietnam on Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) in various EOD units from August, 1968 to August 1969. Michael earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. In January, 1972 Mike was honorably enlisted and transferred to the US Marine Corps Reserves. In January, 1974 he was honorably discharged from the US Army Reserves. In August, 1987 Mike was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel, which is a field grade officer. Since Mike was not recalled to active duty prior to his formal discharge, his official rank is Captain, which is a company grade officer.

Mike was a member of Pilgrim Holiness Church in Rochester Hills. As his pastor said, “Everywhere I look in this church, I see Mike’s footprints.” Mike paid for materials for several much needed projects and enlisted the aid of a good friend and experienced handyman, Wes Davis, to do the repairs.

Mike graduated from Ernest W. Seaholm High School in Birmingham and attended Western Michigan University for one year before enlisting in the US Army. After returning home from Vietnam, he utilized the GI Bill to help finish his Bachelor’s Degree at Oakland University

After graduation Mike worked at General Motors Company as an insurance adjuster. GMC’s company policies reflected the unpopularity of the general public’s stance on the US involvement in the Vietnam War. Mike’s bosses warned him that if he ever talked about his service in Vietnam or anything that happened there, he would be immediately fired.

Mike decided to move his family to Pennsylvania to attend Lancaster Theological Seminar. He registered for classes, and his wife, Jeannie, worked as a LPN. It didn’t take long for her to tell Mike that she had serious doubts about being happy as a minister’s wife. Mike moved the family back to Michigan and was employed at Michigan Bell Telephone for eighteen years as an Area Engineer and Trainer. He thrived in the heavily structured company and moved up to the Middle Management Level. Mike had finally found his niche.

In 1984 Michigan Bell was broken up due to a major antitrust lawsuit brought by the US Justice Department, which aimed to foster competition in the telecom industry by ending AT&T’s monopoly over local and long distance services. The subsequent restructuring and downsizing result in thousands of firings, including Mike. He used his 401K to finance postgraduate studies. He received a Master’s in social work from Wayne State University.

Mike excelled in his studies and successfully completed his internship, but never got his license to practice. Mike found himself competing against young college graduates as a middle-aged man. Jobs were scarce, and the small independent agencies lacked the structure and discipline to which he was accustomed. After failing to make the transition from engineering to social work, Mike worked as a cashier at Meijer’s for ten years until his health declined from the effects of Agent Orange.

If you knew Mike, you knew that he loved to tell jokes. When he worked at Meijer’s, his lines were always the longest. Mike’s regular customers would refuse to move to a shorter line or even an open line. They wanted to hear Mike’s latest joke, and would always leave with a smile on their face. If I couldn’t find Mike in a crowded room, I just listened for the laughter, and there he was. Mike truly loved to make people laugh.

Mike’s life long passion was gun collecting, primarily military weapons. He hunted when he was younger, but preferred target shooting later on. Mike’s also studied military history. He was like a walking encyclopedia of World War I and World War II history. He could talk for hours about battles, weapons, military leaders and the strategies that won or lost the war on either side.

He was a lifetime member of the VFW, and proudly served on the Honor Guard for military funerals until his health declined.

Mike also took flying lessons at Almont airport and completed his solo fight. He was planning to get his small plane license, but a heart attack caused by Agent Orange in 2010 that required a quadruple bypass ended that dream.

Bored and restless, he needed a new hobby. Mike had rode motorcycles as a young man, but that a long time ago. He started out slow and easy with a Yamaha, but as his skill and confidence increased, he sold it and bought a Harley Sportster. He and his good friend, Bill Tudrick, enjoyed many rides together on their Harleys. When Mike began having balances issues, he traded in the Harley for a Slingshot, a three wheeled motorcycle that looks more like a sports car. It sits two passengers side by side in a tub seat. Mike and Kathy had many fun trips together in the Slingshot.

Mike loved the beauty and peace of nature. He planned vacations with the meticulous precision of an engineer. We have many beautiful memories of visiting National parks, primarily in the Northwestern US, camping in many different State parks, discovering lesser known waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula, and trips to Amish country in Indiana. Our most special trip was to Alaska for two weeks. Mike planned out the train trip from Seward to Denali, which was just the summer before his heart attack.

Mike's family will welcome everyone to a visitation on Saturday April 25, 2026 from 2pm until the time of the funeral service at 4pm at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 West University Drive in downtown Rochester, Michigan. Interment will be private at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Michigan.