A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Weerts Funeral Home, Jersey Ridge and Kimberly. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 16, 2019 from 4-7 PM at Weerts Funeral Home, there will also be visitation starting at 9:30 AM before the service. Memorials in Mike’s name may be made to Café on Vine or to the Oakdale Christian Academy in Jackson, KY.
Mike was born in 1944 in Cadillac, MI to Dale and Josephine (Mellinger) Ball. He graduated in 1962 from Cadillac High School where he played varsity sports.
In 1964, Mike married Linda Jean Zakrajsek. Together they raised five children of their own and opened their hearts and home to countless others. Mike began his work career as a painter and then worked 15 years at Fisher Body (General Motors) before moving to Iowa to attend Vennard Bible College in University Park. He graduated in 1987 with a degree in pastoral ministries. He also attended Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, MS. He pastored churches in Jemison, AL, Columbus, MS and Creston, IA. During his years of ministry, he spent three of them at Oakdale Christian High School in Jackson, KY, where he and Jean were dorm parents. He was the administrator of the grounds and was a loving example of faith and family to all students. His example made an impact on lives of many of the students, which still resonates with them today. He retired to Bettendorf, IA in 1998, where he was passionate about volunteering for Café on Vine, a community meal center.
Mike was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed any opportunity to go fishing and hunting with friends and family. He loved all people and was known for his smile and his encouragement to draw closer to the Lord. He loved to laugh, he loved a good conversation, and he loved a good meal.
Survivors include his wife, (Linda) Jean Ball; children Jan (Jim) Meckel of Westampton, NJ, Bethany Ball of Superior, WI, Jason (Carole) Ball of Sioux Center, IA, Mari (Chris) Teegarden of Windsor Heights, IA and Lenora (Hank) Gehrls of Marion, IA; grandchildren Nicole and Emma Ball, Morgan, Gretchen and Cleo Gehrls; sister Rosa Lee (Carl) Simons and brother in law Jerry (Paula) Mercer.
He is preceded in death by mother Josephine, father Dale, sister Shirley and daughter Lynda.
