Michael Magee Jr.
Michael M. Magee Jr.
“And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me when as yet there was not one of them.” Psalm 139:16
For Mike, those days were March 8, 1956, to Sunday, August 3, 2025.
He entered the world in Ionia, the firstborn child and son of Mike and Patsy Magee. Six brothers and sisters followed closely behind. The responsibilities of eldest sibling were impressed upon Mike at an early age and when the family moved to Ludington in 1964; he assumed that mantel in earnest. The leadership qualities that his parents instilled in him became more and more evident as his life went on.
The family business was Uptown Discount, where Mike (and each sibling) learned to run a cash register and stock shelves and were put to work. The term “work ethic” is loosely thrown around, but it was truly forged in each of them.
An early manifestation of his leadership was in the sports arena at Ludington High School. Mike excelled at football, basketball, and golf. He was one of those natural born athletes.
After graduation from Ludington High School in 1974, Mike married Becky Parkinson. Their’s was the classic American love story – the high school quarterback and the cheerleader. That romance burned brightly, and they were blessed to celebrate 50 years of marriage last September.
Adding to their joy were four children – Michael III, Sarah, Matt and Josh. After two jobs in retail that took them out of Ludington, a job offer while back home for a weekend playing golf at Lincoln Hills Golf Club turned into a stellar 47-year career in banking. Mike took to this new world as if it were made for him. He deepened his knowledge of the complexities of finance by taking additional classes and attending specific schools for banking.
He started his career in 1978 at Ludington Bank and Trust. A move to Commercial Bank in Greenville in 1985 led to another golf course job offer and in 1987 Mike began his 38-year employment with Independent Bank in Ionia.
At IB, his leadership skills were on full display and recognized, which led to his place on the management team, eventually becoming president, CEO, and chairman of the board of Independent Bank Corporation. The employees were Mike’s second family, and he has many treasured friendships from those years to this day.
With a financial background, skills in communication and managing people, Mike was asked to serve on many committees. In Ludington he was the chairperson of the group that started the Lakestride Half-Marathon. He was the chairperson of the building committee that resulted in the Knights of Columbus Hall on Jebavy Drive. He was one of the three people that created Hospice of Mason County. He was treasurer of the Ludington Area Catholic School board. The list of Mike’s involvement in community and banking affairs while in Ionia is long, and probably boring to read. But his family is proud of the example he set of giving back, of investing in his local community, so here it is:
The Ionia County Community Foundation exists today because Mike and a fellow banker brought the idea of a foundation to reality. He gave of his time and talent to serve on the committees of the Ionia Free Fair, Gerald Ford Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the finance council of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Ionia Public Schools High Hopes, Ionia County School to Work, Ionia County Project 20/20 Economic Development, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Bankers Association, American Community Bankers Council, and the Bankers Administration Institute of West Michigan.
Mike was honored to be asked to serve two terms on the board of directors of the Chicago Federal Reserve bank – Detroit Branch.
For all his seriousness and type A personality, Mike had an adventurous side. And he brought family and friends along for the ride. He was an instrument rated private pilot. He owned several boats, traveling to favorite spots like Door County, Wisconsin and the North Channel. He and Becky lived full-time for two years in a motorhome while traveling most of the lower 48 states. Then they lived full-time for two years on a boat while Mike navigated the waterways of the eastern United States – a.k.a The Great Loop. They learned in the process that “home” was wherever they were together, no matter the size of the “house.” He taught his children to love the game of golf as much as he did.
After retirement, Mike and Becky moved back to Ludington and spent their winters in the sunshine of North Ft. Myers, Florida, making new friends in the Herons Glen community.
Faith and family were the cornerstones of Mike’s life. Integrity, dedication, compassion, honesty, generosity and respect were the fruits of a life well lived and well loved.
The hardest times of Mike’s life were the passing of his Dad and brother Steve (his Irish twin and best friend). His most profound loss was the 2011 passing of his beloved daughter Sarah, bringing a grief that imbedded his soul. His infant brother Thomas also preceded him in death.
Mike is loved and cherished by his wife Becky, children Michael, Matthew, and Joshua and his wife Ellynn. His “most handsome, cutest, smartest” grandchildren are Gavin Lamb, Shaylon Roslund-Magee, Payton Stidham, Liffey and Tripp Magee.
Mike is also survived by those who loved him first – his mother Patricia Magee, brothers Greg (Karen) Magee, and Jeff (Julie) Magee. sisters Karen (Greg) Wessendorf, Colleen (Doug) Duthler, and sister-in-law Dolores (Keith) Magee Larson.
When Mike married Becky, he gained more family – Becky’s brother Van (Jacki Parkinson), sisters Sally (Kerry) Richmond, and Julie (Art) Collins along with sister-in-law Lisa Parkinson, Preceding Mike in death were Francis and Betty Parkinson, Ted Parkinson, Tim Parkinson, and Susan Parkinson.
Mike made so many wonderful memories with his numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews that will live in their hearts forever.
The lung cancer battle was one that Mike was always going to win. We, his family wanted, selfishly, to have the win be that he would still be here with us. Instead, Mike’s greater victory is that he is home in the glorious presence of Jesus.
“We are of good courage . . and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
There will be a chance to visit with Mike’s family at Grace Funeral Home, 3060 US-10 in Ludington (Amber Township) on Friday, August 8 from 3 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at St. Simon Catholic Church, 702 E. Bryant Road, Ludington with visitation one hour prior. Mike will be laid to rest with a private family burial service immediately after the mass, and then a celebration of his life for friends and family at Treetop Meadows, 5230 W. Angling Road, Hamlin Township.
In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Mike with a donation to the Ionia County Community Fund – ℅ BDR Wealth Management, P.O. Box 45, Saranac, MI 48881; Harbor Hospice – 1050 W. Western Avenue, Suite 400, Muskegon, MI 49441 or the WillStrong Foundation – 6060 N. Peterson Road, Ludington, MI 49431.
Arrangements were made by Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services (formerly Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington). www.
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