Michael Robert Kissell, 57, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 10, 2013.
Mike, son of Robert T. and the late Lois Finnegan Kissell and raised from childhood by Francis Kissell, was born in Butte on Sept. 7, 1955. He attended Butte Central High School, graduating in 1974. Mike enlisted in the Montana National Guard after graduation where he spent the first two years of his military duty. He reenlisted with the U.S. Navy at the end of his Guard enlistment. During his time with the Navy he served as a Search and Rescue Aircrew on the UH-3, UH-1 and SH-2 aircraft.
Mike's time with the Navy took him to many far-away lands and experiences that most of us will never realize. His skills as helicopter Crew Chief gained him much respect and admiration of airmen worldwide with recognition for being cool under fire and a steady, calm approach to out-of-control situations. Being steady, calm, and confident earned Mike the nickname "Mike the Pirate."
He retired from the military as a Chief Petty Officer after a total active service time of 27 years. Upon retirement his love for flying and skills as a helicopter Crew Chief took him to Halifax where he worked for IMP Aerospace in the Quality Department providing engineering and maintenance support to various military platforms worldwide including the U.S. Navy.
Mike will be remembered for his great sense of humor and greater sense of adventure. A normal day off with Mike could include the solitude of sea kayaking alone in the North Atlantic, a six-mile jog in preparation for an upcoming marathon or simply researching the exploits of Caribbean pirates long ago. Mike volunteered much of his free time as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a ski patrolman, a cherished skill he took with him from the mountains of Montana.
Most of all Mike will be remembered as an outstanding husband and father. In 1991, he and wife Roberta blended their families to include daughter, Angela, son, Brian, and their youngest son, Michael. He cherished his time with his wife and children who as adults have moved on to independent, successful lives.
From the mountains of Montana, to your home in Halifax, we wish you Godspeed Michael in your new adventure!
Michael is preceded in death by grandparents, Kenny and Ethel Clouse, Audrey and Emmett Keyser and mother Lois.
Michael is survived by his mother and father, Robert and Frances Kissell; wife, Roberta, daughter, Angela (Todd) Hernandez, son, Michael-Robert, stepson, Brian Jerlin; sister, Connie (John) McDonald, brother, Kevin (Mary) Kissell, brother, Patrick (Tami) Kissell, sister, Marki Kissell, sister, Kerry (Will) Taylor, Uncle Fred (Sally) Clouse, numerous nieces and nephews and friends too many to list.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington County, Va., with full military honors. A memorial service is being scheduled at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Butte for some time next week.
Memorials or donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, Our Lady of the Rockies, or donor's choice.
Coolest air crewman I have flown with. His ability to put a crazy wigged out pilot's head into the game while taking control of the aircraft, while hoisting gear aboard all while chatting about getting laundry done. He always remained cool under fire, even after losing the rescue swimmer who stepped out of the aircraft for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. — Kevin Secord
Mike, son of Robert T. and the late Lois Finnegan Kissell and raised from childhood by Francis Kissell, was born in Butte on Sept. 7, 1955. He attended Butte Central High School, graduating in 1974. Mike enlisted in the Montana National Guard after graduation where he spent the first two years of his military duty. He reenlisted with the U.S. Navy at the end of his Guard enlistment. During his time with the Navy he served as a Search and Rescue Aircrew on the UH-3, UH-1 and SH-2 aircraft.
Mike's time with the Navy took him to many far-away lands and experiences that most of us will never realize. His skills as helicopter Crew Chief gained him much respect and admiration of airmen worldwide with recognition for being cool under fire and a steady, calm approach to out-of-control situations. Being steady, calm, and confident earned Mike the nickname "Mike the Pirate."
He retired from the military as a Chief Petty Officer after a total active service time of 27 years. Upon retirement his love for flying and skills as a helicopter Crew Chief took him to Halifax where he worked for IMP Aerospace in the Quality Department providing engineering and maintenance support to various military platforms worldwide including the U.S. Navy.
Mike will be remembered for his great sense of humor and greater sense of adventure. A normal day off with Mike could include the solitude of sea kayaking alone in the North Atlantic, a six-mile jog in preparation for an upcoming marathon or simply researching the exploits of Caribbean pirates long ago. Mike volunteered much of his free time as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a ski patrolman, a cherished skill he took with him from the mountains of Montana.
Most of all Mike will be remembered as an outstanding husband and father. In 1991, he and wife Roberta blended their families to include daughter, Angela, son, Brian, and their youngest son, Michael. He cherished his time with his wife and children who as adults have moved on to independent, successful lives.
From the mountains of Montana, to your home in Halifax, we wish you Godspeed Michael in your new adventure!
Michael is preceded in death by grandparents, Kenny and Ethel Clouse, Audrey and Emmett Keyser and mother Lois.
Michael is survived by his mother and father, Robert and Frances Kissell; wife, Roberta, daughter, Angela (Todd) Hernandez, son, Michael-Robert, stepson, Brian Jerlin; sister, Connie (John) McDonald, brother, Kevin (Mary) Kissell, brother, Patrick (Tami) Kissell, sister, Marki Kissell, sister, Kerry (Will) Taylor, Uncle Fred (Sally) Clouse, numerous nieces and nephews and friends too many to list.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington County, Va., with full military honors. A memorial service is being scheduled at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Butte for some time next week.
Memorials or donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, Our Lady of the Rockies, or donor's choice.
Coolest air crewman I have flown with. His ability to put a crazy wigged out pilot's head into the game while taking control of the aircraft, while hoisting gear aboard all while chatting about getting laundry done. He always remained cool under fire, even after losing the rescue swimmer who stepped out of the aircraft for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. — Kevin Secord
Michael Robert Kissell, 57, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 10, 2013.
Mike, son of Robert T. and the late Lois Finnegan Kissell and raised from childhood by Francis Kissell, was born in Butte on Sept. 7, 1955. He attended Butte Central High School, graduating in 1974. Mike enlisted in the Montana National Guard after graduation where he spent the first two years of his military duty. He reenlisted with the U.S. Navy at the end of his Guard enlistment. During his time with the Navy he served as a Search and Rescue Aircrew on the UH-3, UH-1 and SH-2 aircraft.
Mike's time with the Navy took him to many far-away lands and experiences that most of us will never realize. His skills as helicopter Crew Chief gained him much respect and admiration of airmen worldwide with recognition for being cool under fire and a steady, calm approach to out-of-control situations. Being steady, calm, and confident earned Mike the nickname "Mike the Pirate."
He retired from the military as a Chief Petty Officer after a total active service time of 27 years. Upon retirement his love for flying and skills as a helicopter Crew Chief took him to Halifax where he worked for IMP Aerospace in the Quality Department providing engineering and maintenance support to various military platforms worldwide including the U.S. Navy.
Mike will be remembered for his great sense of humor and greater sense of adventure. A normal day off with Mike could include the solitude of sea kayaking alone in the North Atlantic, a six-mile jog in preparation for an upcoming marathon or simply researching the exploits of Caribbean pirates long ago. Mike volunteered much of his free time as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a ski patrolman, a cherished skill he took with him from the mountains of Montana.
Most of all Mike will be remembered as an outstanding husband and father. In 1991, he and wife Roberta blended their families to include daughter, Angela, son, Brian, and their youngest son, Michael. He cherished his time with his wife and children who as adults have moved on to independent, successful lives.
From the mountains of Montana, to your home in Halifax, we wish you Godspeed Michael in your new adventure!
Michael is preceded in death by grandparents, Kenny and Ethel Clouse, Audrey and Emmett Keyser and mother Lois.
Michael is survived by his mother and father, Robert and Frances Kissell; wife, Roberta, daughter, Angela (Todd) Hernandez, son, Michael-Robert, stepson, Brian Jerlin; sister, Connie (John) McDonald, brother, Kevin (Mary) Kissell, brother, Patrick (Tami) Kissell, sister, Marki Kissell, sister, Kerry (Will) Taylor, Uncle Fred (Sally) Clouse, numerous nieces and nephews and friends too many to list.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington County, Va., with full military honors. A memorial service is being scheduled at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Butte for some time next week.
Memorials or donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, Our Lady of the Rockies, or donor's choice.
Coolest air crewman I have flown with. His ability to put a crazy wigged out pilot's head into the game while taking control of the aircraft, while hoisting gear aboard all while chatting about getting laundry done. He always remained cool under fire, even after losing the rescue swimmer who stepped out of the aircraft for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. — Kevin Secord
Mike, son of Robert T. and the late Lois Finnegan Kissell and raised from childhood by Francis Kissell, was born in Butte on Sept. 7, 1955. He attended Butte Central High School, graduating in 1974. Mike enlisted in the Montana National Guard after graduation where he spent the first two years of his military duty. He reenlisted with the U.S. Navy at the end of his Guard enlistment. During his time with the Navy he served as a Search and Rescue Aircrew on the UH-3, UH-1 and SH-2 aircraft.
Mike's time with the Navy took him to many far-away lands and experiences that most of us will never realize. His skills as helicopter Crew Chief gained him much respect and admiration of airmen worldwide with recognition for being cool under fire and a steady, calm approach to out-of-control situations. Being steady, calm, and confident earned Mike the nickname "Mike the Pirate."
He retired from the military as a Chief Petty Officer after a total active service time of 27 years. Upon retirement his love for flying and skills as a helicopter Crew Chief took him to Halifax where he worked for IMP Aerospace in the Quality Department providing engineering and maintenance support to various military platforms worldwide including the U.S. Navy.
Mike will be remembered for his great sense of humor and greater sense of adventure. A normal day off with Mike could include the solitude of sea kayaking alone in the North Atlantic, a six-mile jog in preparation for an upcoming marathon or simply researching the exploits of Caribbean pirates long ago. Mike volunteered much of his free time as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a ski patrolman, a cherished skill he took with him from the mountains of Montana.
Most of all Mike will be remembered as an outstanding husband and father. In 1991, he and wife Roberta blended their families to include daughter, Angela, son, Brian, and their youngest son, Michael. He cherished his time with his wife and children who as adults have moved on to independent, successful lives.
From the mountains of Montana, to your home in Halifax, we wish you Godspeed Michael in your new adventure!
Michael is preceded in death by grandparents, Kenny and Ethel Clouse, Audrey and Emmett Keyser and mother Lois.
Michael is survived by his mother and father, Robert and Frances Kissell; wife, Roberta, daughter, Angela (Todd) Hernandez, son, Michael-Robert, stepson, Brian Jerlin; sister, Connie (John) McDonald, brother, Kevin (Mary) Kissell, brother, Patrick (Tami) Kissell, sister, Marki Kissell, sister, Kerry (Will) Taylor, Uncle Fred (Sally) Clouse, numerous nieces and nephews and friends too many to list.
Funeral services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington County, Va., with full military honors. A memorial service is being scheduled at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Butte for some time next week.
Memorials or donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, Our Lady of the Rockies, or donor's choice.
Coolest air crewman I have flown with. His ability to put a crazy wigged out pilot's head into the game while taking control of the aircraft, while hoisting gear aboard all while chatting about getting laundry done. He always remained cool under fire, even after losing the rescue swimmer who stepped out of the aircraft for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. — Kevin Secord
Gravesite Details
Interred July 2, 2013
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