Michael D Bess of Allen Park, formerly of Battle Creek, MI. Mike Bess, 66, passed away on Thursday, November 1, 2018 in Detroit, MI.

Mike was born in Battle Creek, MI on December 22, 1951 to Ken and Doris Bess. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1970 and was a graduate of Kellogg Community College (KCC). He was married to wife Colleen on April 8, 2008. They have spent the last 10 years loving and learning from each other. He introduced her to the wide world of sports and she educated him on the art of mosaics. They shared their families with one another; together enjoying spoiling their grandchildren.

Mike was a sports fanatic and held a lifetime passion for coaching baseball & mentoring young athletes. He was an umpire working the minor leagues, the Big Ten, high school and local amateur leagues. His coaching career included KCC, St. Philip Catholic Central, East Lansing High School, most recently head coach at Ann Arbor Pioneer and a variety of summer youth teams, clinics and camps. Coaching brought him tremendous joy, watching his players learn and grow. As much as he loved the game, he was most proud of what his players accomplished off the field. He thought of many of them as family, filling in as the sons he didn’t have (not that Teresa & Angie are bitter or anything).

Mike’s other passion was the University of Michigan. The only clothes he owned were maize and blue. He never wore green, sometimes refused to eat green vegetables and even in his last days, refused a green Popsicle. For decades he attended U of M football games, putting his top notch cooking skills to work at pregame tailgates where he reveled in sharing the excitement of the game with others.

He was a phenomenal cook, working as a chef in many kitchens and enjoyed sharing his talent with his family and friends. His cheesecakes are famous, his family craved his clam chowder, and he made one hell of a beef wellington.

He loved to give gifts and did so often, showering his children and grandchildren with thoughtful and sometimes strange, albeit useful gifts (windshield washer fluid). His family was his biggest joy. He loved to play games, including Memory with his granddaughter Ellie, who often won. His spirit and passion will be missed but we know lives on through his family, friends, fellow baseball fans and all the U of M diehards out there.

GO BLUE!

He is survived by his wife Colleen Bess; his daughters, Teresa (Conor) Macfarlane, Angie (Chris Lok) Bess and their mother, Kathleen Bess; step daughters Dusti (Jeff) Hillis, Windi (Chris) Sims; grandchildren, Ellie Lok, Lexi, McKayla and Chandler Hillis, and Joseph and Krystal Sims; father Kenneth Bess; siblings Doug (Linda) Bess, Debbie (Mousa) Zaribaf, Jackie (Chris Magnant) Bess; nephews Michael (Jessica) Bess and Casey Bess; and great nephew and nieces Brayden, Peyton and Cailee Bess. He was preceded in death by his mother Doris Bess.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service, on Tuesday, November 6th at 3:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with Jaye Van Lenten and Jim Nelson officiating. Visitation will be at Bachman Hebble on Monday, November 5th where the family will be present from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM. Please do not wear green. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the St. Philip Catholic Athletic Association. Please leave a remembrance at Mike’s webpage at bachmanhebble.com.