Michael Edward Keenum

With a passion for helping others and a drive for excellence, Mike opened his own successful outpatient physical therapy clinic, Orthosport, which served the entire Chicagoland area for many years.

Alongside his growing professional career, Mike developed a love for flying. He earned his pilot’s license and soon embraced aviation as a serious hobby. In the early 1980s, Mike and Kay welcomed two more daughters: Jillian in 1981, and Caitlin in 1982. At the time, Mike was balancing the demands of a thriving practice with his new passion for aviation.

Mike joined the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and began participating in airshows, flying his T-28, F-86, and his prized Hawker Sea Fury, nicknamed Riff Raff 99. One of his proudest achievements was racing Riff Raff in the Unlimited Class at the Reno Air Races in the early 2000s — an event he looked forward to every year.

Beyond aviation, Mike had a deep appreciation for classic cars and motorcycles, a passion that grew even stronger after he retired from flying in 2019.

Mike was a proud grandfather. His first grandson, Aidan, was born in 2007, followed by his first granddaughter in 2008. In 2011, he welcomed granddaughters Abigail and Joell, and in 2015, his final grandchild, a grandson named Eliott, was born. His grandchildren were truly the light of his life.

In 2010, after selling his business, Mike retired and moved to a beautiful farm in Marcellus, Michigan, complete with a lake, private landing strip, and a helicopter pad — a dream come true. He loved his time there, especially “playing farmer” and enjoying the peace of nature.

Winters were spent in Ocala, Florida, where Mike could relax, ride motorcycles, and attend car shows. Summers brought him back to Michigan, where he helped at Gable Hill, an event venue he helped Kay and Jill start in 2015 — a project that brought the family even closer together.

In 2019, Mike and Kay moved to Diamond Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan, where they embraced a slower pace of life. On August 4, 2021, Mike passed away after a brief illness, just shy of his 72nd birthday.

Mike was the rock of his family — a devoted husband, father, grandfather, veteran, entrepreneur, pilot, and friend. He lived a life full of passion, adventure, and love. He is deeply missed every single day.