Michael Howard Core

Michael Howard Core was born on July 24, 1946, the son of Howard and Jeanne (McClintock) Core, who both preceded him in death. He passed on Oct. 19, 2025, due to complications from cognitive loss. He is survived by Susan, his wife of over 57 years, sons Brett (Jennifer) and Greg, grandson Jeremiah and granddaughter Macayla. Mike grew up on a farm near Hume, Ohio, which he always said was the home of the Humans! He was a 1964 graduate of Wapakoneta (Ohio) High School where he played basketball for the Redskins and appeared in four high school musicals, including the lead male roles in Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun. His love of theatre and sports lived on throughout his life. He and Sue made annual pilgrimages to New York City to see seven or eight Broadway plays and musicals for many years. They also attended many "hometown" performances wherever they lived. Mike was a lifelong Cincinnati Reds and Ohio State Buckeyes sports fan. It was a rare day when he wasn't wearing a Reds or Buckeyes hat and/or logo shirt. Later in life Mike was heavily involved in the Sun Lakes, Arizona Senior Softball Association as a player, umpire, Board of Directors member, Officer, team sponsor and club photographer. Mike also had an interest in journalism starting while he was in high school when he landed a job as a sportswriter for a local newspaper. He later became the Assistant Sports Editor for the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) college newspaper and a sports broadcaster for WBGU-FM, the college radio station. After graduating from BGSU, Mike was a high school teacher for five years prior to becoming General Manager and Editor of the St. Mary's (OH) Evening Leader newspaper. He expected to remain in journalism, but was recruited by Midwest Electric, Inc., a rural electrical co-op, to become their Member Services Advisor. This change in his career path led to positions with the Ohio Rural Electrical Cooperatives, Buckeye Power, the Delaware (OH) Rural Co-op, the Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electrical Cooperatives and finally to Big Rivers Electric Corporation, where he served as President & CEO for ten years. Big Rivers, headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky, is a billion-dollar company providing wholesale electrical power and distribution services to twenty-two counties in Kentucky. Mike continued in a Board of Directors and consulting role for that company after his retirement. Mike and Sue moved to Arizona shortly after his retirement and spent many years living the good life in the Valley of the Sun.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 16th at 1 PM at the Valley of the Sun Mortuary, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler, AZ.