Michael D. O'Keefe

Michael D. O’Keefe of Rockford, went to be with the Lord and his loving wife Carol O’Keefe Friday, September 22, 2023 surrounded by his family. Mike’s wishes were honored when he passed on to glory at his home on Blueberry Lake in Couderay, Wisconsin.

Born February 27, 1949 in Rockford, son of Carol and Don O’Keefe. He graduated from West High School in 1967. He was an avid swimmer for West High School as well as Rock Valley. Mike was an Army veteran stationed in Germany in the late 1960’s during the Vietnam War. When he returned, he carried on the family legacy as a second-generation firefighter when he was inducted into the Rockford Fire Department April 2, 1973. He received his bachelor’s degree in fire science from Southern Illinois University. Mike was promoted to Lieutenant on April 16, 1990 and later retired on January 1, 2005. Mike married Carol Pearce on July 16, 1983, at the Church by the Side of the Road in Rockton, IL.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, but most of all he enjoyed carrying on his family’s legacy at Blueberry Lake by spending time with his family and friends. He was known as Muskie Mike on the Chippewa Flowage and The Crappie Fisherman of Blueberry Lake. Every year Mike would attend an annual Musky tournament up in Hayward, WI, on the Chippewa Flowage with his sons. He leaves his legacy as an angler to his grandchildren. He would spend countless hours and endless patience teaching them all how to fish as well as swim at the Lake. Mike really enjoyed four wheeling with his family and friends where they created memories and loved telling stories about “the trails”. And everyone knew, Mikey was a “die-hard Packer fan”.

He leaves behind; his daughter Tricia Dupre, sons Tim O’Keefe and Trevor O’Keefe, beloved grandchildren; Padyn O’Keefe, Brody O’Keefe, Timothy Dupre, and Tristan O’Keefe, sisters; Vicki and Bob Wright, Diane and Gary Heslop, nieces and nephews; Brent Graceffa, Justine Graceffa and Ryan Graceffa; Kelli (Ryan) Wysinski, Michael (Meredith) Wright, sister-in-law Karen(Doug) Vallem (Todd (Meagan) Vallem , brother-in-law Brian Pearce, and several special lifelong friends on Blueberry Lake. Predeceased by his wife Carol, brother Danny O’Keefe, and his parents.

Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 10am until the time of the Memorial Service at 11am at Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 8800 N. Alpine Rd., Machesney Park Illinois. A Memorial in Mike’s name has been set up with The American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers please send donations to American Cancer Society in Memory of Michael D. O’Keefe (P.O. Box 1640, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741).