Michael “Mike” Richard Fijalkiewicz
Michael “Mike” Richard Fijalkiewicz, 63, passed away Saturday, June 1, 2024, surrounded by his family, from a month-long illness of cancer.
Mike was born Jan. 2, 1961, to Richard and Joan (Gifford) Fijalkiewicz, in Ladysmith.
He lived with his family in Milwaukee/Oak Creek, during his childhood years, before moving back to Conrath, in 1974, graduating from Lake Holcombe High School in 1979.
Mike married the love of his life, Jeannette Celske, June 29, 1985. Together, they lived in Holcombe, for four years, before buying his grandparents’ farm in 1989. It was there they built their forever home and raised their four children, beef cattle, pigs, chickens and several dogs.
He started line work in 1979, with his dad, on a Holcombe project. This sparked a long and fulfilling 44-year career as a line worker, before an unexpected stroke forced him to retire from Michel’s Power in December of 2021.
Mike talked often of certain jobs he and his crews completed. Some of his greatest moments were being called to duty, last-minute, for ice storms and hurricanes around the country. Mike and his crews daringly drove into disastrous areas that most people would flee from.
He often spoke of the challenges in the hurricane damaged areas in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Some of his stories included crews being forced to stay in bunk houses fashioned from semi trailers or having to scoop water out of a hotel swimming pool with a bucket, in order to operate a shared toilet.
Despite the conditions, he had great satisfaction in a job well done, and he and his crews always returned home safely.
No matter the distance of the job, he always managed to make it home for the kids’ many school events or sports activities, sometimes arriving late, but always there for them.
Mike loved being in the woods, whether it would be hunting, clearing logging roads, cutting firewood or just resting on his favorite stump. He loved “Sand Hill,” the highest point in the Town of Willard, along the Deer Tail Creek.
Nicknamed “Mike-gyver,” there was nothing he could not fix. Even on the job site, when equipment broke, he was able to devise solutions and get it back to working order, to get through the day.
He passed much of his knowledge to his fellow lineman and children. They were always in awe of how something could be repaired simply with “black tape” (and lots of it).
Mike was diagnosed with cancer April 23 – something he faced head-on – and something even he could not fix.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years – Jeannette; his four children – David (Rachel), Dubuque, Iowa, Sara, Superior, Matthew, New Richmond, and Andy, Eugene, OR; his three grandchildren – Gabby, Tyler and Lane; his mother – Joan, Conrath; his brother – Tom (Leslie), Chippewa Falls; his sister, Kristie (Steve) Ollinger, Elkhorn; his parents-in-law – Leonard and Kathy Celske, Conrath; special sister and brother-in-law – Donna and Zenny Mahun; his fur-babies – Raji and Puff-Puff; and many other family relatives; friends and co-workers.
He was preceded in death by his father – Richard; and his grandparents – Stanley and Anna Fijalkiewicz, and Frank and Irene Gifford.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 22, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Holcombe, with Deacon Craig Voldberg officiating. Burial will immediately follow in the Town of Washington Cemetery in Holcombe.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m., until service time, Saturday, at the church.
A special thank you St. Croix Hospice. Mike, your work on earth is finished. You can go home. Hang up your hat, take off your boots and rest. Thank you for a job well-done.
Nash-Jackan Funeral Home is assisting the family.
