Michael Clark Flynn

He is survived by his wife, Julianne; his father, Pat (Becky) Flynn; and his sister, Patrice (Mike) Hofbauer. He is also survived by his father (mother) in-law, Mike (Sandy) Kozar, and his sister-in-law Natasha (Mitch) Duiverman. Mike was a loving and proud uncle to Ava, Elena, Alex, and Gwen. Mike’s mother, Jody Flynn, preceded him in death.

Mike lived life on his own terms with gusto, warm humility, irrepressible and wry humor, and resolute loyalty to family and friends.

He graduated from the University of Toledo and Bowsher High School. Along with lifelong friends, Pat Lyons, Jeff Wenger, and Brian Sullivan, Mike was an alumnus of Saint Charles Catholic School in Toledo.

Mike spent nearly three decades of his career working at Sterling Commerce (now IBM), beginning his tenure in 1997.

At work and in his personal life, Mike was known for his strong will and limited appetite for trends and fashion. Mike shunned social media, and his fashion was marked by his shoe collection and his reliably sported “Flynnel” shirts.

In his younger years, Mike traveled extensively and worked for an airline, where he developed an appreciation for efficient logistics and a passion for winning the race to his destination.

Mike loved his dogs, spoiling Fitzy (and before him, Sam). He was an enthusiastic football fan preferring college football (Michigan State and Notre Dame) to professional, but with enduring loyalty to the Detroit Lions. After Julianne invited Mike into fandom, he also developed an affection for the Cleveland Browns.

Mike was widely known for regaling tales about creatures living in the woods at Lake Hope, ending stories with, “You don’t have to outrun Bigfoot – you just have to outrun the person you’re with.”

Mike loved gardening with Julianne, spending summers canning salsa and tomato sauce.

According to Mike’s wishes, no funeral services will be held. Rather, friends and family are encouraged to order a properly poured pint of Guinness and offer a toast in memory of Mike’s indelible impact.

A celebration of life will come in the future. Memorial gifts in Mike’s name can be made to the Ohio State Park Foundation (https://ohiostateparksfoundation.org/donate/). (Please note “In Memory of Michael Flynn”.) Feel free to reach out to a family member for more details.