Mike was a resident of Colorado Springs, originally from Brooklyn, NY. He suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away Thursday June 9th in California, while away on business. He was Vice President of Technology Operations and Support Services at Blackhawk Network.
Mike was a vivacious, fun loving, hard-working man, who was a role model to all. He was a selfless and dedicated father and husband. He was giving and lived his life with amazing integrity and passion. All who knew him, are better for it.
He met his wife of 36 years, Mary, at age 17 when they lived across the street from one another. They were married 4 years later. He joined the Army at age 19, and was stationed in Germany for 2 years. He became a father in 1979, and gave the world to his 3 children: Melissa, Joey and Chris. He was an excellent baseball player, and played while in the Army. He coached soccer and baseball. He was an avid sports fan, particularly hockey, and loved theater. He was a host family for a couple Canadian hockey players for Colorado College. He always loved animals; especially his huskies and gorillas. He was a donor for the Jane Goodall Foundation. He taught everyone that the simple things in life were most important. He was selfless when it came to his family. He never missed an opportunity to appreciate the mountains, ocean or fresh air. He hiked a few of the Colorado 14’ers. He was always a ‘do it yourself’ man and he LOVED music. Throughout his entire life he spent endless hours listening to every kind of music, rolling the windows down and cranking the music up.
In the last year of his life, Mike was able to take a family trip to Hawaii; a place he always said he wanted to see before dying. He also had the opportunity to zip line in Guatemala and eat pierogies in Poland while traveling with work.
He is survived by his wife Mary Zaremba, daughter Melissa Zaremba Crooch (husband David Crooch), sons Joey and Chris Zaremba, mother Ann Zaremba, sister Susan Zaremba, and brother James Zaremba. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Theodore J. Zaremba.
Visitation Wednesday, June 15th from 4-8pm at Swan Law Funeral Directors, 501 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. Mass of Christian Burial Thursday June 16th 10am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 6455 Brook Park, Colorado Springs, CO. Graveside services Ft. Logan National Cemetery Thursday June 16th 2:15pm, 4400 W. Kenyon Avenue, Denver, CO 80236.
In lieu of flowers, Mike would have preferred your donation be made to the Jane Goodall Foundation, www.janegoodall.org, or ‘in honor of’ call 703-682-9220, or contribute to your local zoo’s gorilla exhibit. That was one of the causes he supported in life.
Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.
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