Michael Gannon

Gannon, Michael J.

Captain Michael "Jimbo" Gannon, age 62, of Garrison, MN formerly of Elkhart Lake, WI passed away Friday afternoon (September 27th) at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN where he had been a patient for the past three weeks. Mike was born on August 27, 1951 in Plymouth, a son of the late Jim and Marge Kampmann Gannon. He attended St. John the Baptist Grade School in Plymouth and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1969. In May of 1974 he married Faye Doherty and together they spent many happy years in Elkhart Lake. In November of 1999 he married Rita Peterson in Garrison, MN. Mike was employed by the Kohler Company for many years before leaving his job to pursue his dream of becoming a full time professional fisherman. Mike competed in the Professional Walleye Tournament Series and worked as a fishing guide on Elkhart Lake for many years before moving to Lake Mille Lacs "the walleye capital of the world" in Garrison, Minnesota. In Garrison Mike achieved his dream of becoming the captain of his own charter fishing launch. For 20 years he taught others to love the sport of fishing, one walleye at a time. The pinnacle of his career came in 2004 when Mike and his friend and fishing partner, Phil Erikson, won the prestigious Wave Wackers walleye tournament. Mike and Phil repeated their winning performance in 2005 becoming the first angling team to ever win back to back Wave Wacker tournaments. In his limited time spent off the water Mike enjoyed hunting, his dogs, and golfing. He was a true sportsmen and his gentle soul, unique laugh and great sense of humor in the worst of situations will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his loving wife Rita. His daughter and son-in-law Abbie and Larry Ward of Elkhart Lake. His beloved grandsons and first mates Maxwell Gannon Ward and Patrick Michael Ward. His devoted sister and brother-in law Pat and Don Resimius of Plymouth. His nephew Tony (Carisa) Resimius and their children Evie, Henry and Maggie. His niece Sara (D.J.) Weber and their children Kyla and Aquinnah. His step daughter Tanya (Chris) Laumann and their daughter Ellie and step son Brent (Melissa) Peterson, mother-in-law Ellie Eissinger, sister in law Cory (Jim) Anderson, brothers-in-law Randy (Sandy) Eissinger and Kevin (Kathy) Eissinger. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In keeping with what Mike would have wanted, there will be no formal funeral service. He would have viewed that as a wasted opportunity to be out on the water. In the meantime if you would like to honor the great life he lived we ask you to go fishing, wet a line for him, there could be no better tribute to a life well lived on the water.