Michael "Mike" D. Surber

January 15, 1949 – March 18, 2023

As a loving father, doting grandfather, and successful business owner, Mike’s larger than life personality touched many over his 74 years, and his absence will be undeniable for us all. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Harold, and nephew, Ronald. He is survived by sister Beverly; daughters Kelly (Lyle), Cassie (Jay), and Mackenzie (Austin); grandchildren Allison, Gavin, and Charlotte; and nephew Andrew (Lisa).

Mike was born and raised in Greencastle, Indiana, where as a child he enjoyed traveling around the country and camping with his family. His parents instilled in him the importance of togetherness, by always ensuring they ate meals together, even when his father began a career in the US Postal Service requiring a daily mail route. His love of family and food continued into his adult years, as he always enjoyed sharing steaks, pineapple pizza, or a plate of cherry crepes with his daughters whenever possible.

Mike attended Greencastle High School, graduating in 1967, and was an acclaimed student athlete in both basketball and track. After attending college at DePauw University, Mike went on to begin his successful banking career, founding numerous companies involved in finance and real estate. He was a true entrepreneur and visionary who took great pride in creating new ways to “help people, have fun, and make money” - his business motto that also guided his personal life.

Mike was a lover of animals and cared for several dogs, cats, and horses over the years. His beloved English bulldog, Panda, was his companion until one year preceding his death, accompanying Mike on errands around Cicero on weekend mornings. The two brought smiles to anyone seeing them ride around town in his convertible. Mike’s two cats, Guy and Bonnie, were always by his side.

Although Mike’s favorite music was classic rock, including the Beatles, Elvis, and Aerosmith, he enjoyed attending concerts of all music styles and never hesitated to take his three daughters to shows they would enjoy. He was the most enthusiastic dad at any New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys concert, getting immense joy from sharing those moments with his children.

When his three grandchildren were born in 2015 and 2016, Mike stepped into the role of GPaw seamlessly. Mike enjoyed spending holidays with his grandchildren, and as they grew, loved “rocking out” with them on his drum set.

To honor Mike’s memory, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society for Hamilton County. We love you, Dad.