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    Celebrating the life of

    John Michael (Mike) McKenna

    24 Nov 1941 - 07 Dec 2019

    Family and friends

    On Sunday December 8, 2019, John Michael (Mike) McKenna, loving husband and father of two children and three grandchildren, passed away at the age of 78. Mike was born November 25, 1941 to William Ferris McKenna and Mable Elizabeth McKenna in Danville, IL. He spent his childhood in West Lafayette, Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry and receive... more

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    9 Dec 2012

    Jen Bhalla I love this picture of Mike. We were celebrating my dad’s 70th birthday at Mike & Joey’s house. I always laughed at his stories he would tell. Love you, Mike!

    9 Dec 2012

    Jen Bhalla

    2015

    Elizabeth Shade

    11 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    Lots of memories of fun times together. There was never a dull moment when Mike was around!

    Brad and Jeanine Hager12 Dec 2019
    12 Dec 2019

    Josann Moser McKenna

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    Joey and family, Carol and I will miss Mike and will forever cherish our times together with Mike and Joey. He was such an athletic, kind, thoughtful and fun person to be around. I will miss him and will fondly think of him often as he golfs and hikes and laughs with and about us. CW and Carol Miller

    Charles Miller12 Dec 2019

    From Julie Fontaine Golding- I was so sorry to hear of Mike's passing, and know that the last years for you all required courage and love. Fortunately for Mike, he had both from his family and friends. As others have pointed out, Mike was in the center of our class, always. We were lucky he was part of everything we did, and he will be greatly m...

    Elizabeth Shade12 Dec 2019
    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade Miss Cantrell's 2nd Grade Class

    From John Connelly - Mike was a best friend from the time his family moved to West Lafayette from Veedersburg when we were in the 2nd grade, the infamous class taught (sometimes) by Ms Cantrell--photo attached--all the way through college and beyond. There were camping trips, a back-packing trip in the Smoky Mountains, football, wrestling, you nam...

    Elizabeth Shade12 Dec 2019
    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    12 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    From John and Bernie Speers - Dear Joey, Jon and I send you our most heartfelt sympathy. We have many fond memories of Mike. I remember when I first met you and him for dinner at Becky’s house. He was funny, entertaining, intelligent and engaging. He was the kind of person everyone wanted to be around. We will always be grateful to both of you...

    Elizabeth Shade12 Dec 2019
    12 Dec 2019

    Josann Moser McKenna

    Katie, Forty years of friendship, so I have lots of memories with your dad. When I think of him, I see a tall lean man with a bushy mustache. I think of our ski trips up to Michigan and riding in the Mercedes (I can still picture that checked upholstery). We used to go cross country skiing with him in Elkhart (Ox Bow Park I believe). I also reme...

    Jocie Antonelli13 Dec 2019

    Mike was one of the best! Our relationship goes back over 40 years. Couldn’t ask for a better friend that would do anything for you. I will truly miss him!

    Dennis Sabo13 Dec 2019

    Mike McKenna was one of the best people I've ever known. Our friendship goes back many years, and I always enjoyed playing tennis with him in Elkhart. He was a pretty good player, and he also had a mischievous, got-you, smile and personality. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

    Richard Phillips13 Dec 2019

    I loved spending time with Mike. He always told great stories and he always made me laugh. I was lucky to have him as an uncle and a godfather. I will miss him dearly.

    Ken Bhalla13 Dec 2019

    He was a fun guy and will be truly missed

    Anne Gabbard Malsbary13 Dec 2019

    I came to West Lafayette in the middle of my Jr year in High School. Mike made me feel the Kansas kid welcome. That glint in his eye always kept me on my toes cause I wasn't quite sure what he might say. I never should have worried cause he was always straight up with me. May his soul rest at peace until we meet again.

    David Matthew13 Dec 2019
    13 Dec 2019

    David Thoma Dear Joey and Family, It was so sad to learn of Mike's passing and to know that Alzheimer's Disease was a part of your lives. My Mother was effected in her later years by the same disease. My interaction with Mike in high school, as a classmate, was always positive and fun. We as the WL H.S. Class of 1959 have truly lost one of the CLASS members of our class! May you as Mike's Family hold in your heart the greatness of this great man. Dave Thoma

    13 Dec 2019

    Elizabeth Shade

    Mike was one of the kindest, funniest men I knew and he will be sorely missed by many. I still have the Red Bar T-shirt we all wore together once.

    Yvonne Ransel16 Dec 2019