Colonel Michael Richard Dembroski

A true American patriot Colonel Michael Richard Dembroski, of National Harbor, Maryland, passed away on September 20, 2025 after a long battle with cancer.

Mike was born on October 14, 1954, in Oconto Fall, Wisconsin, and graduated from Oconto High School in 1972. Mike's family lived in Lena, Wisconsin, until moving to Oconto where his beloved mother accepted a teaching job she held for nearly 40 years.

During his high school years Mike participated in cross-country, basketball and track and field. Mike was blessed with outstanding teammates and despite having the smallest enrollment in the conference, each team, year in - year out, was at the top of the conference standings.

Following high school Mike attended the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point graduating with a degree in Education while participating in cross-country and track and field. Mike taught for two years in the Milwaukee Parochial School system.

Mike then joined the United States Peace Corps and was posted in Marrakech, Morocco, where he worked at the Leonard Cheshire Foundation serving the needs of children afflicted with polio.

Following his Peace Corps service Mike joined the U.S. Air Force where he served for over 30 years attaining the rank of Colonel. Stateside postings included Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Castle Air Force Base, California; Andrewes Air Force Base, Maryland; Defense Foreign Language Institute, Monterey California; and The Pentagon.

Overseas postings included U.S. Defense Attache' duties in Hong Kong, China; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition, Mike served twice in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he was Deputy Commander then Commander of the POW/MIA Detachment responsible for POW/MIA recovery efforts.

Other overseas postings included the U.S. Embassy - Bangkok, Thailand; U.S. Embassy - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and three tours as a United Nations Military Observer in Iraq-Kuwait, Somalia and the Western Sahara. Post-graduate studies included graduate degrees from both the Naval Postgraduate School and The United States Air Force War College.

Mike is survived by his loving wife of over twenty years, Angela Hyun Ah Kim-Dembroski, and his faithful Wingman, Golden Retriever, Rafa Dembroski. In addition, survivors include his beloved sister Kathy (Donald) Denor; and nephew Aaron (wife Sarah and son Charles). 

Mike would like to sincerely thank all those along the way who were great friends, colleagues and mentors. This includes the full spectrum (St. Joe's, Oconto High, Stevens Point and his military brothers-in-arms). He forever felt privileged and proud that he spent his formative years in Oconto (Southsider) and after seeing the world found no place that compared. 

Mike's funeral service will be held in 8-12 months before his final resting place in The Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia.

Email angelakha@gmail.com for exact funeral date.