Michael James Lancaster

1969 - 2022

Michael James Lancaster, 52, of Wallingford, CT passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Yale New Haven Hospital. Born in South Bend, IN on August 3, 1969, he was the beloved son of Sue Ann (Haas) Lancaster of Ellenton, FL, and the late Michael Lee Coder. "Mike" was raised in South Bend and graduated from Clay High School in 1987. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, proudly serving as an Anti-Submarine Naval Warfare Aviation Specialist in the Gulf War. He was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Ribbon with Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, and the Sea Deployment Ribbon. After his military discharge, he lived in San Diego, CA and worked as a Computer Networking Engineer in the field of banking and finance. He was a mentor in the Big Brother Association, surfed, coached youth baseball, and played competitively in adult baseball leagues. Mike and his family relocated to Simsbury, CT, and later Wallingford. Officer Lancaster served on the Meriden Police Force for over ten years and continued on becoming a SWAT leader specializing as a Sniper and worked with the DEA before his medical retirement Mike coached his two sons as part of the Simsbury Trojans youth football and baseball for many seasons. Like his grandpa Harry, he was a loyal Notre Dame football and Cubs baseball fan. He relished spending time outdoors fishing and whittling and was an avid movie buff and dog lover. His greatest joy was time spent with friends and family. In addition to his mother, Michael leaves behind his four children, Abigail Jane Lancaster of Avon, Michael Harry Lancaster of Philadelphia, Colby John Lancaster of Simsbury, and Avalana Rhein Lancaster of Wallingford; his former wives Michelle Lancaster Ankenman, Karyn Anne Lancaster, and Stephanie Anne Lancaster; many cousins; as well as his niece Ashlyn Howell and nephew Jacob Howell. In addition to his father, he was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Harry James and Bessie June (Littlejohn) Haas and his paternal grandparents, Adelbert S. and Agnes (Prezybylinski) Coder. Calling hours will be held at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury, CT on Friday, June 3rd from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Our Community Hero's Inc., www.ourcommunityheros.org, or to A Promise to Jordan, www.apromisetoJordan.org Please visit Michael's Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.