Mike Joseph "Michael" Pacatte

Michael Joseph Pacatte

Michael "Mike" J. Pacatte, 77, died in Mansfield, Texas on March 3, 2026.

Mike was born on October 27, 1948, in Alton, Illinois. He lived in South Roxana, Wood River, Springfield and Jacksonville, Illinois in his youth and early career. Mike attended St. Bernard's School, Marquette High School and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, graduating with a B.S. in Accounting. He lived in the Ft. Worth and Arlington, Texas area since 1974.

Mike worked for the US Government for over 30 years primarily as an Auditor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and also as a Criminal Investigator for the U.S. Department of Transportation, from the early 1970s until his retirement in 2004.

Mike travelled extensively throughout Texas working for the USDA. Mike's knowledge and stories of small-town Texas cattle auctions, ranchers and "wheeler-dealers" were a constant source of conversation. He could rattle off routes between towns that you had never heard of like a Rand McNally Atlas. He was a GIS master before the internet. Mike adopted the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys but always cheered for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He tinkered with cars and kept a list of the cars and trucks he purchased, traded, and modified that numbered over 30 vehicles! He attended countless practices and games during his sons, Justin and Kyle's, "football days", consulted on their many vehicles and worked with them doing landscape and tree work over many weekends when they were in high school and college. He was "Papaw" to his grandkids.

Mike's survivors include Sons Justin (Traci) Pacatte, Arlington, Texas; Kyle (Kelly) Pacatte, Dallas, Texas. Siblings Tom (Kim) Pacatte, Webster Groves, Missouri; Dan (Leeanne) Pacatte, Bastrop, Texas; Laura (Ron) Pollilo, O'Fallon, Illinois. Grandchildren Ty and Kaitlin Pacatte, Arlington, Texas; Wyatt, Charlotte, and Shelby Pacatte, Dallas, Texas. Nieces and Nephews Denzel (Sophia) Jines, Carlinville, Illinois; Mary Beth (Gaby) Jines, St. Louis, Missouri; Tim (Angela) Pacatte, Cedar Park, Texas; Clay (Keri O'Brien) Pacatte, Los Angeles, California; Ryan, Callie, and Libby Pacatte, St. Louis, Missouri; Nic (Anna) Pacatte, Union, Missouri. Grand Nieces and Nephews Addysen, Bristol, Denzel Dean IV and Charlie, Carlinville, IL; Violet Garret, St Louis, MO; Reese and Maren Pacatte, Cedar Park, Texas; Lila and Lindy Pacatte, Union, Missouri and dozens of Cousins from the Pacatte, Aherin, Henry, Jerden, Loyette, Towle families across the United States.

Mike was preceded in death by Father Merle and Mother Mary Pacatte, Wood River, Illinois; infant Sister Mary and infant Brother Timothy, Wood River, IL; former Wife Janet Bean Pacatte, Ft. Worth, Texas; Nephew Eric Jines, O'Fallon, Illinois; Grandson Dalton Taylor, Arlington, Texas; and numerous Aunts, Uncles and Cousins of the Pacatte and Aherin Families in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and New York.

Special thanks to friends and caregivers, Traci Pacatte, Bonnie Michener, and Francis Henson of Arlington, Texas.

Mike wished to be cremated. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, located at 9015 Plano Rd, Dallas, TX 75238. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions in Mike's name may be made to Meals On Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County, 5740 Airport Fwy, Haltom City, TX 76117 or to the charity of your choice.