Former Ludington, MCE superintendent dies this afternoon

Mike Oakes

UPDATED.

LUDINGTON — Mike Oakes, former superintendent of Ludington Area Schools and Mason County Eastern schools died this afternoon while attending a meeting at Memorial Medical Center. Oakes was at a Mason County Community Foundation meeting, held in the basement of the hospital, when he suffered a heart attack, MCP has been told. The Eden Township resident was the executive director of the foundation.

Oakes, 66,  first came to this area serving as the superintendent of MCE. He later returned and became superintendent of Ludington. He was from Holt, near Lansing. Mike and his wife, Jeanne, were very active in the community. They both became respected leaders since moving to the area.

“He was an absolute wonderful person,” said Budde Reed, who formerly served on the community foundation board. “He just loved the community foundation. He took the youth board to a new level. That was so admirable. I was on the board when the previous director, Larry Reed, retired. Mike was our first choice. We ended up with someone who had a passion for the community.

“He was an amazing man,” Jennifer Lake said on the MCP Facebook page.

Oakes was also a member of the Ludington Rotary Club.

“He was a great asset to our community. He was a great Rotarian and great friend,” said Linda O’Brien.

its about love and he never missed a bit.