Michael Keith Donahue

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Michael Donahue Obituary

After a long battle with early onset Alzheimer's Disease, Mike Donahue (63) passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 24, 2023, with his wife of 36 years by his side.

Mike certainly knew how to have fun and enjoyed life to its fullest. He loved traveling and participating in sports such as hockey, mountain biking, hiking, and skiing. He passed this love of life and sports down to his beloved daughters, Sarah and Jordan. Mike was good at so many things, but he was best at being a dad and a husband.

Mike is survived by his wife Kris; daughters Sarah (and wife Candace), Jo (and husband Corey); parents Bill and Charlotte; sisters Michelle (and husband Phil) and Marcy; nieces Allie, Ashley, Shannon, Cassie, Carly, and Lauren; nephew Luke; mother-in-law Connie; sister-in-law Sheri; brother-in-law Mike; sister-in-law Fran; and brother-in-law and best friend, Craig.

Kris is eternally grateful for the help, support, and prayers her family and friends gave during this difficult time. Much more research is needed on Alzheimer's Disease, so we would appreciate any donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association. A private service will be held at a later date.

In the wonderful words of Reverend Neal Groeling, "God must have finished up the hockey rink ahead of schedule." Please visit our online guest book for Michael at www.frenchfunerals.com.

Published by Albuquerque Journal from Jul. 9 to Jul. 10, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Donahue

6 Entries

Brad Janssen

March 17, 2024

I just wanted to share some of my history with Mike. I was too overcome with sadness when i wrote my comments, and I want to share more now that I have composed myself.
I met Mike in the winter of 1977-78, at the Red Barn Ski Shop in Spokane. He was working in the shop and mounted the bindings on my skis. He was a couple years ahead of me in school, and I thought he was really cool, and had the coolest job in the ski shop. The next winter, I was working at the Barn as well, and when Mike came home on break we started skiing together. He was a great skier, and we became fast friends through our love of the sport. For the next few winters, I really looked forward to Mike coming home at Christmas, and couldn't wait to skiing together. We liked to road trip to Red Mountain in B.C., because of the scary steep terrain, and lots of jumps. We rolled my Honda Civic one night in a snow storm before going up to Red Mountain, and I will always remember that as well.
But one of my favorite memories happened in the summer of 1983.
The previous winter I told Mike that I had joined the Marine Corps, and was going to Officer Candidate School in Quantico VA. that summer. Mike told me that he was going to be working in nearby Washington DC for the summer and would be staying at his sister's apartment while she was deployed. He gave me her number, and I told him I would call if we got liberty and could leave the base.
So it's the second to last week of OCS, and we get liberty for 48 hours.
I stood in line at the pay phone and called Mike, and told him where I was, and he said he would be there to pick me up.
The next day when liberty was granted, I waited outside by the drill field, hopeful that Mike would show up, but realistic because Camp Upshur where we trained was fifty miles inside the base, with no signs or directions.
All of my peers who wanted to leave the base were waiting for one of the dozen or so Taxis lined up, so they could go into Q-Town for a pizza. There was a Domino,s with no inside seating, so you ordered and ate your pizza on the loading dock, then went back to Camp Upshur. That's all there was.
So there I stood, and noticed that in the lineup of Taxis was a gleaming white Porsche 914, with my friend Mike behind the wheel. At that moment, I was really proud to be his friend. We raced away as all my jarhead buddies stood there with their mouths open. We had an awesome weekend sitting by the pool drinking beer and sharing stories, and driving around in his cool convertible. When the weekend was over, we underestimated the drive time because we were talking and not paying attention when he picked me up. It was high speed the whole way, and I made it back with two, yes two minutes to spare before being UA. Talk about close. But what a great weekend. What a great friend.
We lost touch over the years as we married and had families, but I always thought we would see each other again. I tried looking Mike up in 2019, but no luck. Then when I tried the other day, the first thing I saw was the obituary.
I will always miss my friend, and my newest greatest regret is that I did not try harder to get ahold of Mike. My one comfort is that Mike was surrounded by a family that loved him. The Donahues are a nice bunch of people. My condolences to you all.
My condolences to you all

Brad Janssen

March 16, 2024

Wow, what a loss. I haven't seen Mike in 30 years, and decided to look him up before we are too old. I was too late. Mike was one of my very best childhood friends. I was hoping to ski with him again some day. We had some great skiing adventures. I will always miss my friend I loved him.
Brad Janssen
Spokane WA

Marcy Donahue

July 23, 2023

Mike was a wonderful brother and friend to my sister, Michelle, and I. I loved his adventurous spirit, high energy and wonderful sense of humor. We so many fun family memories at Lake Pend Oreille from over the years to cherish. He will be greatly missed.

Marci Vanderbosch

July 12, 2023

I will always remember Mike as an adventurous, fun loving man with a big heart. My prayers to his family. He was so proud of his family and loved them so, every time I ran into him over the years he always light up when talking about them. RIP Mike, you wil be missed

Catherine, daughter of Connie Banos

July 10, 2023

We always referred to him as Mike on the bike as he rode through the neighborhood. He was helpful and kind. He will be missed by all of us.

Kevin Tracey

July 9, 2023

I am so very sorry to read this. I became friends with Mike in 1980 when we lived in alvardo Hall at UNM. Mike was a very fun person to hang around with! I am sorry his life ended so soon.

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