Michael Allen Golchert

Michael Allen Golchert, 65, went to his heavenly home on June 4, 2025 from Lexington, Kentucky after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Born September 21, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois to Ruth and Norbert Golchert, he grew up alongside his siblings (Brian, Dawn and Lisa) and started a 50 year career by volunteering at his high school radio station. Michael received his degree in broadcast engineering from Southern Illinois University in 1981. While a college student, he printed the dorm newspaper and volunteered with the fledging Herron ambulance service as an EMT. While attending the local church, he met the woman of his dreams, Diane Koch, and they married August 1, 1981. In the fall of 1981, Michael helped launch a new station in Southern Illinois from the ground up, including building a customized "board" and installing all the equipment to make the magic happen. His career in radio broadcast engineering took him to Bowling Green, Kentucky and the surrounding South-Central radio stations of WKCT (AM), WDNS (FM), WBVR (FM), WRUS (AM), WVVR (FM); Birmingham, Alabama and the Clear Channel cluster of stations; nationwide as a Corporate AM Field Engineer for Clear Channel; Houston, Texas with the CBS radio station cluster, and to Lexington, Kentucky and iHeart radio stations in parts of Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. He enjoyed being a member of professional groups such as SBE and exchanging information and experiences with fellow engineers. He was published in the Broadcast Engineering and Radio Guide magazines. His career growth, with many different titles, stemmed from his motto of "keeping the radio stations on the air". Although he worked long hours and numerous overnights, he faithfully served as an usher, elder, communion assistant, AAL volunteer/Lamplighter/ACV, or service sound engineer at the Lutheran churches where he lived.
Michael enjoyed taking photos, camping, visiting train museums, eating pasta, and having a Boston cream pie instead of a birthday cake. He was proud of his family and he would have the biggest smile every time he told a story about his grandchildren. While undergoing cancer treatments, he felt blessed to be able to attend the baptisms of his two youngest granddaughters in 2024.
Forever grounded in his faith of a resurrected Lord Jesus, he has received his crown of life. He will be missed. Michael is survived by his beloved wife Diane; children Mike (Janelle) Golchert and Sarah (Adam) Swinford; grandchildren Ada Swinford, Trea Swinford, Rachel Golchert, Michael Golchert, Lexi Swinford, Caroline Golchert, and Jamie Swinford; parents Norb and Ruth Golchert; siblings Brian Golchert, Dawn Golchert, and Lisa (Jeff) Nowakowski; sister-in-law Cindy Koch; two nieces and their spouses and one nephew.
Visitation will be at St. John's Lutheran church in Lexington, Kentucky on June 28, 2025 from 10 am to 11:30 am. The funeral service will begin at 11:30am. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lutheran Hour or Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, Indiana student scholarship/endowment fund.