Obituary for Michael E. "Mike" Alumbaugh

Michael Edward Alumbaugh, born December 5, 1955, in Moline, IL, to John and Edna (Schatz) Alumbaugh, the 4th of 8 children. His earliest years were spent in Moline until the family moved to Sterling, IL, where he spent his growing-up years, loved by his family, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Mike graduated from Sterling High School in 1974. He deeply cherished the memories of his years growing up in Sterling and the wild adventures he and his friends got into. He told those stories with such detail; you felt like you were along for the ride.

He went on to work for Northwestern Steel and Wire. After an injury at the mill, Mike went on to pursue many enterprises and adventures, including Mike’s Highway 30 Market, Honkey’s Ribs, and Road Trippin mobile kitchen, to name a few. He was unafraid to take risks and was always pursuing new ideas.

Mike had an incredibly detailed recall and could regale you with stories from far back in his life with uncanny accuracy and flourish. He was a great storyteller, as those who knew him could attest. His booming laugh was contagious.

In 1996 he met Kristy while working at US Cellular, and the rest of their lives began. With Kristy’s son Luke, Mike’s daughter Jessica, and their own daughter Alison, they built a life and loving family together in West Salem, WI. While the kids were growing up, he was a selfless volunteer in the West Salem school district and was there enough to often be mistaken for an employee. Mike was also an active volunteer at church. He served on the church council; he shoveled the sidewalk — whatever it took. Mike was also a 20-plus-year member of the Board of Directors at La Crosse Area Headstart.

One of Mike’s most famous roles was the Ice Cream Man in West Salem. In 2003, Mike bought a replica old-fashioned ice cream bike and began the legend. On any given night throughout the summer in West Salem, you could find groups of kids standing on the corners waiting for the ice cream man.

Mike loved motorcycles — all motorcycles. His passion for them took him to many places and introduced him to so many people. When he had a stroke a few years ago, his ultimate goal was to get back to riding. He missed it, and the camaraderie so much.

Mike loved family above all. His family, Kristy’s family, his siblings, his children were his greatest joy, and he spent his life being the greatest papa, dad, husband, brother, and friend. Every day with him was an adventure and a joy. Mike made friends wherever he went. He had a gift for making people comfortable and really listening to them. He would do anything to help someone and had the kindest heart that he wore right on his sleeve.

Mike is survived by his wife, Kristy; his children, Lukas, Jessica, and Allison; and his greatest joy, his grandson Louis. He is also survived by his siblings John (Mary), Julia (Dean), Melinda (Fred), James (Laurie), and Jennifer (Chad); his brother-in-law Rick; mother and father-in-law Vaughn and Janet, brothers-in-law Dean and Scott (Ron); many special nieces and nephews, beloved cousins and extended family; and his three oldest children Michael, Elizabeth, and Robert whose estrangement pained him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Nancy; his brother Pat; his sister-in-love Lori Dowd; and special nephew Ricky.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff at Mayo Hospitals La Crosse and Sparta for their loving care of Mike throughout his illness.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 6, with a service to follow at 2:00 PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 359 N Leonard St, West Salem, WI.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Jostad Chapel, West Salem, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at this website.