Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and golf buddy, Michael Brennan, 81, Long Beach, Indiana, and Bonita Springs, Florida, passed away Sunday, February 12th, 2023 in his Long Beach home surrounded by family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 18th, 2023 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 1010 Moore Road, Long Beach, IN with Rev. Keith McClellan officiating. Private burial will take place at a later date in Michigan City, IN. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Friday at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN and from 10:30 am - 11:00 am Saturday at the church.
Mike was born April 19th, 1941 in Chicago, IL to the late Thomas and Mary (Stockdale) Brennan, and grew up along the shores of Lake Michigan in southwest Michigan. On July 10th, 1965 in Michigan City, IN he married Kathleen Kenefick who survives in Long Beach, IN.
He is survived by two daughters, Colleen (Robert Miltenberger) Brennan of Chicago, IL and Kerry (Andrew) Ward of Western Springs, IL; son, John (Kathleen) Brennan of Grosse Pointe, MI; seven grandchildren, Michael and James Miltenberger, Riley and Joseph Brennan, and Molly, Charlie and Katie Ward; and five brothers, Terry (Patti) Brennan of Palm Springs, CA, Thomas Brennan of Bloomington, IN, John Peter Brennan of Michigan City, IN, Jim Brennan of Berlin, Germany and Mark Brennan of Arizona. He was preceded in death by sister, Sheila Ramsey of Michigan City, IN.
Mike received his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and his J.D. from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. From 1968 to 1980 he practiced law as a partner in the Michigan City, IN based law firm of Kenefick, Brennan and Gilmore. He also served as chief deputy prosecutor of LaPorte County. He left private practice in 1980 to become chairman and CEO of Tyler Refrigeration Corp in Niles, MI, achieving a successful buyout of the employee-owned company by American Standard in 1985. He served as president and CEO of RSB Corporation/Lighthouse Partners, the partnership responsible for developing Lighthouse Place Outlet Center in Michigan City on the former Haskell & Barker Car Company property and Georgian Place Outlet Center in Somerset, PA. Later Mike became co-owner of and successfully repurposed the abandoned Joy Manufacturing Company property in Michigan City, and purchased and co-owned manufacturer, Sager Metal (recently purchased by Roeslein & Associates).
A community leader, Mike was a past board of directors and member of the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Planned Parenthood and the LaPorte County Revolving Loan Fund. He was a co-founder and president of the LaPorte County Bar Association. He also served as a Junior Achievement Applied Economics Consultant, co-chairman of the Industrial Division for the United Way campaign and authored the initial Michigan City Human Rights Ordinance.
Recently, Mike was celebrated for his role as a founding trustee and co-chairman of the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County and over 30 years of strategic and inclusive leadership. Since its inception, the Unity Foundation has grown from zero to more than $40 million in current assets and made more than $22 million in grants and scholarships to benefit LaPorte County.
Passions included golf, Notre Dame football, jokes, spy novels, sharing great stories and sunsets on the beach accompanied by an occasional Dewars. He was a member of Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, FL and Long Beach Country Club in Long Beach, IN. For the last 20 years he served as unofficial “mayor” of the sunset brigade at Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs, FL.
Contributions may be made to the Unity Foundation Mike Brennan Operating Endowment Fund.
