Michael R. Engan

Mike was born in London, England at the end of World War 2 to Madeleine Payne and Bob Engan her American GI husband. Mike & Madeleine came to the USA a year later aboard the SS Washington and lived in Fort Atkinson, WI with the extended Engan family.

Mike excelled at sports in school lettering in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track. He went on to the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse where he earned his BS in Parks & Recreation Administration. His education was interrupted by the Vietnam War where he served 21 months in the Army earning an Honorable Discharge as a Sergeant. He and (3) friends owned the popular Oxford Pub in LaCrosse (remodeled by Bob Engan to resemble an English Pub) during their school years.

Mike began his career in Parks & Recreation in Independence Twp., MI with friend Tim Doyle. He then became Assistant Director of the Michigan Recreation & Park Association before founding his own company designing & building parks & playgrounds for children of all abilities. He received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.

Mike enjoyed playing basketball, softball, jogging, golf and working in the Recreation field with people who shared his passions. He worked with the Hershey Track & Field Youth Program, with MASA, ASA and USSSA softball and with the MParks Foundation. He is survived by his wife Karen (whom he met at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island when “Somewhere in Time” was being filmed), sister Diane and family in Wisconsin, Canada and the UK. We will celebrate the man, the myth, the legend at a later date. Bring your favorite stories and pictures to share. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Mike & Karen Engan Park & Playground fund at the Capital Region community foundation; funds will be used to create play areas for children of all abilities. https://ourcommunity.org/funds/michael-and-karen-engan-park-and-playground-fund Our thanks to Hospice House of Lansing for their exceptional care of both of us.