Michael C. Kaczmark, 92, of Duluth, MN passed away on January 3, 2026 with his family at

his side after a short stay at the Solvay Hospice House.

He was a life long Duluth resident born on August 18,1933 to Michael and Elvera (Gehlhar)

Kaczmark. He was the oldest of four brothers, including James, William and Larry. At nine

years of age, their father was tragically killed in a hunting accident. As the oldest, this event

left him as a young boy to take on some adult roles. From diaper changing to helping out

financially, his life was forever changed. He took on his first job at age ten delivering

newspapers. He continued to work from that time forward and always had a very strong work

ethic.

He was a graduate of Duluth Denfeld High School in 1951. While there he had the

opportunity to attend and complete the Smith Hughes Machinist Program. This opened

the door for him to get his first job as a machinist at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, where he

worked for 36 years. He took great pride in his work and accomplishments there. The

skills, precision and attention to detail that he learned followed him through the rest

of his life. His ingenuity, skills, ability to design, create, and even at times incorporate “raw

materials” served him well.

In 1953, at the age of 20, he was drafted into the United States Army. He served his country

in Korea until his honorable discharge in 1955. He worked there as a heavy equipment

operator and mechanic.

Three days after his arrival home from Korea he reconnected with friends and they all went

out roller skating at the Duluth Curling Club. It was there that a beautiful woman

approached him for the “Ladies Choice” skate. Her name was Shirley, and in July of 1958 she

became his wife of 67 years. Early in these years they were blessed with three children,

Tammy, Jim, and an infant son, Michael, who sadly passed away shortly after birth.

Home and family life were very important to him, and he was always there for them. One

part of this family life was the many years of camping that they did. The camping progressed

from a canvas tent to the dream of a new truck and pick-up camper. A favorite camping spot

was the Gunflint Trail area. This is, in part, where he taught his kids outdoor skills such as

reading the woods, fire building, canoeing, portaging, cooking outside and fishing. From the

opening day of fishing to the end of duck and goose season, weekends and vacations were

spent making memories in the out of doors.

Throughout the family years he was also a member of the Jack Mead Gun Club. He was a

member of the St Louis County Fair Board and involved in the development of the new

Proctor hockey arena, as well as establishing and running the concession stand there.

Mike always had a passion for fishing. Years of stream and inland lake fishing eventually

drew him to Lake Winnibigoshish. Known for its walleye fishing, he and Shirley bought a

cabin there that they enjoyed for 30 years.

In the fall season, he spent time out in the woods. He had years of duck, grouse and goose

hunting. His success rate in those hunts was in part due to his four legged friends - the dogs

that he enjoyed so much and trained for retrieving.

In 1977 he and Shirley had a house built on their 40 acres of land in Canosia Township. The

hardwood trees there provided him an abundance of wood to cut and chop to heat their

home for many years. It was the maple trees that sparked his interest in maple syruping. He

taught himself this hobby and enjoyed it for many years. They had plenty of room for a

large garden that yearly provided a bounty of food. He loved watching the grandkids dig

potatoes, harvest veggies and pick apples. Personally, he could make a full meal of corn

on the cob and raspberries.

A highlight in his life was becoming a grandpa. The first of three grandchildren, Bryan,

arrived in 1988, followed by Simone in 2008, and Seth in 2011. They brought him much

happiness. He loved spending any time possible with them, and sharing his hobbies and

interests with them. They learned many things from grandpa which they carry with them to

this day. When Sylvi, the first of his two great-granddaughters, arrived in 2022, she also

captivated him and brought him many smiles. Kaia was born in 2026, and although he never

met her, she would have brought him as much happiness as all of them. Any child that was

part of his life will always remember his smile as he greeted them with his famous “duck

quack”.

Later in life, and throughout retirement, he and Shirley embarked on travel and new

adventures. Some of the adventures included a cruise to the Sea of Cortez where they

kayaked and whale watched. They shared a rafting trip down the Salmon River, a cruise to

Glacier Bay, camping in the Bighorn Mountains, and many others. They also had 17 years of

trips to Alaska with 13 of those years including guided fishing trips through a lodge in Angoon.

A particularly memorable trip was the summer that they took a 10,524 mile driving trip in their

camper to Alaska that included driving the entire Dempster Highway to its end at the Arctic

Ocean.

Mike loved life and family. He lived every day doing what he enjoyed and what his body

would allow him to do. He taught all of us how to “open up the windows” , and to carry on.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers James, William and Larry,

infant son, Michael, and nephew, David.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, daughter Tammy ( Dan) Karban, son Jim ( Julie) Kaczmark,

grandchildren Bryan (Christina Melander ) Karban, Simone Kaczmark, Seth Kaczmark and

great-granddaughters Sylvi and Kaia Melander-Karban, and nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service on Friday, May 22, 2026 at the Cremation Society of

Minnesota- Duluth located at 4100 Grand Ave, Duluth, MN. Visitation at 10:00, service at 11:00

followed by lunch. There will be a private family committal with military honors at the

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Saginaw, MN.

Memorials can be made to the Solvay Hospice House, or the American Legion Duluth Post

#71-Honor Guard in lieu of flowers.