Michael "Mike" Danielson

Michael “Mike” Danielson, born June 13, 1945, passed away on December 4, 2025 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Dementia. Although Mike was born on an Army base in New Jersey, he moved to Minnesota as a young child and always considered himself a Minnesotan. He spent much of his childhood in Spring Lake Park with his mother, father, and younger sister Kathleen; after his parents’ divorce, he primarily lived in Brooklyn Park. Mike had many cousins and friends growing up and was a typical Minnesotan —playing hockey, football, and baseball, and enjoying hunting and fishing.

Uncle Sam had plans different from Mike’s, and he was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam, where he primarily served as a cook and baker. After returning home, Mike met the woman who would become his wife of 53 years, Jane, on a blind date. Jane later recalled that she only agreed to the date because she believed he was on leave and would soon be returning to the Army. She didn’t find out that his time in the service had concluded and that he was home for good until they met face to face —and the rest was history. Though Mike grew up in a small family, he didn’t skip a beat when he instantly gained 12 brothers and sisters the day he married Jane.

Mike and Jane welcomed two beloved children, Joe and Melissa. Mike ultimately followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a career in printing. He was always a very hard worker, and during economic downturns that led to layoffs in his industry, he was never too proud to take any job he could find to support his family. His children remember tagging along to a doughnut shop where he washed windows, and the shop owner gave them each a doughnut while they watched their dad work. Mike also worked second shift for many years without complaint.

Like many of his generation, Mike knew a little bit about a lot of things and was always busy fixing something around the house or at the family’s rental property. He was an avid reader of non-fiction and likely read thousands of books over his lifetime. Sharing something he had learned from a newspaper article or book was something he loved to do.

Unlike many Americans today, Mike cherished his time off and always looked forward to planning a family vacation. Many years were spent renting a cabin up north to fish for the week, but the Danielsons also took two big road trips when the kids were young—one to California and the other to Florida. Mike insisted on driving so they “wouldn’t miss anything along the way.” In addition to Disneyland and Disney World, there were countless memorable stops, including Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, the Petrified Forest, the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore, and many more. In later years, Mike and Jane enjoyed both domestic and international travel together, always appreciating the adventure. Melissa believes her own love of travel began on those childhood trips.

Beyond travel, Mike and Jane lived simple, frugal lives, rarely indulging in extra frills. They were thrilled to welcome a son-in-law, John, and his family as an extension of their own. They were even more thrilled to welcome two grandchildren, Madeline and Willem, a few years later. Mike and Jane were wonderful grandparents. The kids have many fond memories of Grandpa reading to them, taking them to the park, cooking special meals, playing tic-tac-toe, and giving piggyback rides—always saying “yes” when the kids begged for more, even when he said he needed a break.

Having seen many family members develop Alzheimer’s, Mike began investing early, which eventually allowed him to enjoy an early retirement. What he never expected was that Jane would develop dementia. Mike did his very best to care for her for as long as he possibly could, until his own memory and abilities began to fail. Mike and Jane moved into assisted living together in late 2019, and Mike later moved to the Minneapolis Veterans Home. When Jane passed away in late 2022, the family realized his own dementia had become a blessing, as the loss never fully settled in for him. Although it was difficult for those who loved him to watch his brilliant mind slip away, his kindness and gentleness remained to the very end.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Doris Danielson; his wife, Jane Danielson; his sister, Kathleen Andrusko-Kosmecki; and several beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law. He is survived by his loving children, Joe Danielson and Melissa (John) Tschohl; his beloved grandchildren, Madeline and Willem Tschohl; many cherished brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews; and the wonderful staff of the Minneapolis Veterans Home, who cared both for and about Mike during these last few years as his body and mind failed.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Church of Saint Raphael, 7301 Bass Lake Road, Crystal 55428. Visitation one hour prior to Mass, at the church. Interment Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, Crystal. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.