When Michael Scott Petru walked into the room, those in his company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Michael was and how he impacted those around him. Michael was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Michael wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Michael was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.
Michael was born on October 25, 1982 at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Thomas G. "Tom" Petru and Kathleen A. "Kathy" Milas. Michael was raised in Chicago, Illinois. Always at the ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Michael might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that Michael was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.
Michael was raised with one sibling. He had a older sister Kristen. Michael was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in his family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Michael was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Michael well in his adult life and, along with his wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew him.
As a young boy, Michael was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Michael was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. As a young boy Michael was quite active he loved roller blading and skate boarding. He was also involved in Scouting Cub Scout's to -Boy Scout's all the way until he went in to High School. In his spare time he liked magic cards. Michael's memorable achievements included 1st place in the Fishing Derby and that he was an Alter boy from 3rd grade threw 8th grade along with being #1 patrol boy in 7th & 8th grade.. Michael had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he and the many childhood friends he shared might discover there was never a dull moment he was always on the go.
During his high school years, Michael responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. He graduated from St. Lawrence High School in 2000. Michael was a very good student, and generally did well in his courses. Michael absorbed as much as he could from all of his teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using his imagination to master his assignments. For Michael, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to his ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Michael a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to him to discuss just about anything.
Michael did well at Lincoln Tech, as a result of his comfort level with tackling new theories and his love of learning. He earned his Mechanic's Degree from Lincoln Technical College. Michael was very adaptable, a quality that helped him make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Michael's problem solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that he enjoyed virtually every class he took. Michael was always in quest of new things to learn and experience
With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought him an endless stream of friends, Michael was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Michael was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. He always seemed aware of what was going on with people around him and throughout his life he made many friends. While growing up, some of his best friends were Brian,Todd Amanda, C.J., Danny and Jason. Later in life, he became friends with so many people it is hard to name them all. He was like" Will Rogers" - Michael never met a person he didn't like and in return there was no one who didn't like Michael.
Michael was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made him an exceptional worker. His primary occupation was as an auto mechanic. He was born with a passion for car's and he got his start working with them at Brach's Auto where he worked for 7 years before joining his cousin Robert at Alpha Auto working as a supervisor /mechanic. Michael was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize him. Michael had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of his gift for insight. Michael's fellow workers saw him as a supporter and a mentor.
Because Michael loved to have a broad variety of activities in his life, he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. Although his favorite pursuit was always working on car's. "Car's" were his life. Michael had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes. However, Michael's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.
Michael derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. His charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In high school, Michael was on the track team all four years - his coaches said he would "run like the wind". Michael was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were "His Chicago Team's" his CUB'S, his BEARS, and his WOLVES.
Throughout his life, Michael was actively involved in professional and community organizations. He was compassionate, accommodating and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Michael seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Michael usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with him, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. During high school years , Michael was an active member of Queen of the Universe Teen Club.
Michael was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a member of the Catholic faith all his life. He was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and he used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for his beliefs.
Though he never did anything solely for individual recognition, Michael's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and selflessness, earned him accolades for his many lifelong efforts. Some of his most prestigious awards included being considered #1 SON, BROTHER, and FRIEND.
Michael's love of improvising in his daily life was a perfect fit for his enjoyment of traveling. His favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit his personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Michael took his vacations seriously, well, as seriously as he possibly could. Favorite vacations included Florida...Florida....Florida.
Michael was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. His favorite was "Dixie Lee" a Boxer.. His family was rounded out by Isiah Anne, Batman, MC Giver, Switch, Honey and Peanut.
Michael Petru passed away on May 19, 2010 at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Michael fought a brave battle after a freak accident. He is survived by his loving and devoted parents Tom and Kathy, his cherished sister Kristen, his beloved fiancé Sarah Liko,his treasured grandparents Katherine, George (Maria) Milas his many aunts, uncles cousins and friends who will miss him so very much. Services were held at Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Michael was laid to rest in mount Auburn Cemetery in Stickney, Illinois.
There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Michael. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Michael Petru for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Michael was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones and he will forever be loved and missed.
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