- Date Of Death: April 22, 2017
- State: Michigan
Gladstone, MI
Michael J. LaJoice, age 68, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, April 22, 2017, at his home in Gladstone, following a short battle with cancer.
Mike was born July 29, 1948, in Cheboygan, MI, the son of Francis and Ethel (Nay) LaJoice. He was raised in St. Ignace and was a 1967 graduate of LaSalle High School. Following high school, Mike enrolled at Ferris State University where he began his artistic studies in Ferris’ Art Department. In 1969, Mike was drafted into the United States Army where he served in the Vietnam War and received the distinguished Purple Heart Medal of Valor. He was honorably discharged in 1971. On April 8, 1972, Mike was united in marriage to the former Nora J. Mannarelli, at St. Henry Catholic Church in Lincoln Park, MI, and together the couple made their home and raised their family in Lincoln Park. His loving wife Nora preceded him in death on January 14, 2000. Mike was employed as a plumber at Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit, for 31 years. In 2003, he relocated to Gladstone and was employed as a security guard at the Island Resort and Casino, where he made many dear friends, until his retirement. Mike was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Flat Rock. In addition, he was a former member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the VFW.
Survivors include:
Son: Joseph (Julie) LaJoice
Daughter: Lori (Misin) Riza
Sisters: Nancy (Thomas) Flynn, Annette Powers, Cindy (Robert) Thomas and
Terese Myers
Granddaughters: Misina and Ally
Also surviving are nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Mike’s parents; Francis and Ethel, wife; Nora, and brothers; Gregory and David preceded him in death.
