Mike POHL

1961 - 2017

Age 56 of St. Paul, MN, died unexpectedly on Saturday, September 30th, 2017 when his heart stopped while riding dirt bikes with friends. Mike was born May 1, 1961 in Bemidji to Don and Janet Pohl. He graduated from Bemidji High School and UND, where he was president of the Sigma Nu fraternity, and the IFC. He married Kristi Hanson in Bemidji on September 12th, 1987. After spending 15 years in the insurance industry, he and Kristi opened ACES Flight Simulation in 1996, where thousands of people experienced flight until it's closure this past May. Mike also developed STEMulation Learning Systems, which provides flight simulator labs for high school STEM programs. Mike embraced life like few others. He was passionate about his family, his motorcycles, his business, all things mechanical and electronic, photography, music, skiing, traveling and having fun. But mostly he loved to interact with people from all walks of life. He is survived by his beloved wife and partner, Kristi, and son Charlie of Duluth, MN; father Don of Bemidji; brothers John (Mary) of Lake Forest, IL, and Bob of Bemidji; father and mother-in-law Dave & Diane Hanson; brother-in-law Kelly (Angie) Hanson, sister-in-law Heather Hanson, all of Bemidji; nephews Max Pohl of Jinhua, China, Kaleb (Emma) Hanson and Riley Hanson of Bemidji; and nieces Elizabeth Pohl of Chicago, IL and Savannah Hanson of Bemidji. He is also survived by his "second family" of fellow off-road motorcycle enthusiasts and a fantastic group of friends from high school & college who have blessed his life with boundless camaraderie and joy. He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet. There will be a memorial for Mike on Saturday, October 28th in Bemidji from 2-6 pm at the Elks Club. We are going to celebrate him with cocktails, stories and tributes.