- Date Of Birth: December 31, 1945
- Date Of Death: November 1, 2010
- State: Colorado
William Michael Janssen was born Dec. 31, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, to John and Marjorie (Swearinger) Janssen. He graduated from Orland (South Dakota) High School and attended the School of Mines in Rapid City and the University of Missouri. He received his B.S. and masterés degrees from Pittsburgh State University, Pittsburgh, Kansas. It was there that he met and married Teresa Long, who was attending Missouri Southern in nearby Joplin, Missouri. They would have celebrated their 40th anniversary this coming Thanksgiving Day.
Mike lived life to the fullest. While growing up in South Dakota, he would ride his Harley Hydra-Glide to school with his brother, Paul hanging on behind. Paul would have his hands stuffed in Mikeé¢s coat pockets to keep them warm during the winter. Mike often talked about taking the family truck out on the frozen ponds and doing é¢donuts.é¢ In college he would ride his Honda 350 to class while wearing a helmet and flip flops. His love of life and adventure didné¢t stop when he married 颔 he just included Teresa.
He earned a private piloté¢s license and stunt flew with his teacher and alone; Teresa would back out when doing loops. They white water canoed in Missouri and Arkansas, which sometimes meant getting up in the middle of the night when their campsite would become flooded. Mike was exposed to four-wheeling in 1975 and immediately bought a Chevy Blazer. The first trip out, he misjudged the distance between trees and returned home sporting a dent on the passenger door. This only encouraged him to take on more challenges.
After his daughter, Lysa was born he took her dirt bike riding strapped to his chest in an infant carrier. When Mike moved to Colorado, he took up skiing and quickly earned the name of é¢Mad Dogé¢. His full beard and mustache would be covered in ice resembling a rabid beast. His son, Erik then became known as é¢Mad Puppy.é¢ As the kids grew, Mike introduced them to the wonderful riding trails in Colorado. Mikeé¢s enthusiasm for outdoor adventures included camping, hiking, exploring the Rocky Mountains and the beauty of Utah with his family and an extended network of fellow adventurers.
In recent years, Mike enjoyed four things: playing squash, ATVing in the mountains with the Colorado Quad Runners club, mastering his BBQ skills and discovering different flavors of bourbon.
Mikeé¢s other passion was the medical device industry, where he brought his energy and enthusiasm to all his many ventures. He was a Certified Clinical Engineer and did research and development in cardiology and pacemakers, bone growth stimulation, electrophysiology, and plastic and aesthetic surgery. He was currently working on two projects – one involved nasal surgery and the other dealt with cardiac disease in diabetics.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa of Centennial; one daughter, Lysa Janssen of London, England; one son, Erik Janssen of Lakewood; one brother, Paul Janssen and his wife Susan of Madison, SD; two nephews, Nathan (a senior at the Air Force Academy) and Logan Janssen of Madison, SD; and his stepfather, George Jorgenson of Montrose, SD. Mike was preceded in death by his father John Janssen and his mother Marjorie Janssen-Jorgenson.
We can only hope to experience lifeé¢s joys and challenges with as much vigor and determination as Mike has shown to all who knew and loved him.
