William Michael Conlin

Mike would frequent the Salinas airfields and hitch rides on flights there from friendly pilots, including one ride that he took to Florida with no return plan, prompting a call to his tolerant mother that he would get back in a few days. After graduating high school, he served in World War II in British Guiana. His love for all things aviation and flight was a personal passion and also became the focus of his professional life. A move to Los Angeles, California lead to both his first job at Western Airlines, and his introduction to Margaret Jarmer. They married and eventually moved to East Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they raised their two daughters, while Mike held managerial positions for numerous aviation-related businesses. He then moved on to hold roles with Lear Jet in Wichita Kansas, then moved to Dallas working as the U.S. face of the French helicopter firm Sfena. This led to his love of France and many happy trips to the country - including a 2001 trip to Paris with his entire family. After a brief attempt at retirement he and Margaret formed Merlin, a successful aviation consulting practice. He and Margaret both received their pilot licenses and enjoyed flying to many locations around the U.S. They traveled to all seven continents, with particular highlights being Antarctica, New Zealand, and Singapore - and while they were home, they volunteered for the Frontiers of Flight Aviation Museum in Dallas. Margaret passed away after a long illness in 2016. He was then fortunate to find new love and happiness with Glenda and they married in 2018.

Glenda and Mike spent the last four years together at Porter Hills Retirement Village in Grand Rapids, where they enjoyed attending St. Thomas church, visiting with family and traveling to Greece, Pentwater, Traverse City and the U.P. Mike was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a devout Catholic and rarely missed a Sunday mass - no matter where his world travels took him. And he was a sharp thinker, with a keen recollection of his travels that he shared in vivid stories with his family and he followed national and international news with great interest. We are grateful for the compassionate and professional care he received at Blodgett hospital.

Mike was predeceased by Margaret Conlin and infant son David. Mike is survived by his wife Glenda Conlin; daughters Margot Shirley (Gary Johnson) and Rosemary Conlin (Mikel Cahill); grandchildren Matt Furjanic (Jen Trompeter) Melanie Ryan (Dave Ryan), Lucy Cahill, and Nina Cahill; and great grandchildren Parker Ryan, Elliot Ryan, and Grayson Furjanic.