Michael Allen Burchett

To know Mike was to know a man who loved deeply, laughed often, told a good story, and never met a stranger. He was a beloved father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle and friend, and his absence will be felt by so many who were fortunate enough to share life with him.

Mike was born in Mansfield, Ohio, and grew up in Ontario, Ohio, where he graduated from Ontario High School in 1973. After high school, he attended the Police Academy and began his career in law enforcement with the Ontario Police Department, where he proudly served until retiring as a Sergeant in 1994 following a battle with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Mike was proud of his years as a police officer. His time in law enforcement gave him much more than a career—it gave him lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and a brotherhood that stayed with him throughout his life. He remained a member of the William J. Taylor Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Mansfield, Ohio, and always held a special place in his heart for the people he served alongside.

Some of Mike’s happiest memories were made with family in Olive Hill, Kentucky. The farm and grandma’s house were places where he could slow down, enjoy the outdoors and do the things he loved. He spent countless hours outdoors, telling stories and playing music. His love of music began when he was young, and music remained an important part of his life. He played both the banjo and bass and was a member of several bluegrass bands over the years.

But for Mike, bluegrass was never just about the music. It was about sitting together, playing together, laughing together and making friends. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people, and everywhere he went, he seemed to leave with another friend and another story.

Mike also had a deep appreciation for his family’s history. One of the projects that meant so much to him was restoring his grandfather’s 1955 Farmall Cub tractor—the very first tractor he had ridden as a child. Restoring it allowed him to reconnect with those childhood memories, but the greatest joy came later, when he was able to share that same experience with his grandchildren. Seeing them enjoy something that had meant so much to him was a gift he treasured. Of all the roles Mike held throughout his life, none meant more to him than being Pawpaw.

His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He loved visiting his daughter and her family in Indiana, and he looked forward to every opportunity to be part of their lives. He was there for ball games, dance recitals, holidays and all of the ordinary moments that become the memories a family holds onto forever. Quinn, Gage and Ellis brought immeasurable happiness to his life. Mike had a way of making his grandchildren feel special simply by being present. He listened to them, laughed with them, teased them and made time for them. They will remember his stories, his jokes, his smile and, most of all, the feeling of being loved by their Pawpaw.

Mike was always quick with a joke and never short on a story. Sometimes the story was long, sometimes it was told more than once, but it was always worth listening to. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh. More importantly, he had a gift for making people feel seen. Whether you had known him for years or had just met him, Mike had a way of making you feel like you mattered.

Although our hearts are heavy with the loss of Mike, we are grateful for the life he lived and for all the memories he gave us. We will remember him on a farm in Kentucky, in the sound of a banjo or bass, behind the wheel of a Farmall or the fence at a baseball game and in every story that makes us laugh and say, “That sounds just like Mike.” Most of all, we will remember him as Dad and Pawpaw—a man who loved his family fiercely, took great joy in the people around him, and left a lasting impression on everyone lucky enough to know him.

He will be deeply missed by his daughter, Megan (Mike) Frey and is also survived by his daughter, Sara (Josh) Ray; his grandchildren, Quinn, Gage and Ellis Frey, and Allie and Mason Ray; his sister, Sandy (Tim) Mastandrea; niece, Eve (Cody) Cornell; a nephew, Dustin Mastandrea; his aunt and uncle, Wendell and Pat Burchett; his many cousins, as well as the countless friends who became family throughout his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ruth Burchett.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road, Ontario, Ohio 44906. The funeral service conducted by Rev. Keith Carlisle will follow at 1:00 p.m. and will be concluded by the Fraternal Order of Police Rites. He will be laid to rest in Mansfield Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mike’s memory to the Team Gleason Foundation (https://teamgleason.mygiftlegacy.org/), which provides essential technology, equipment and services to individuals and families facing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or the William J. Taylor Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #32.