Mike was a great guy...I would stop by his table at Long Beach and talk with him forever, and he had some spectacular coins. I remember watching him bid when the Battle Creek Dollars were first sold. He truly loved coins. But what I'll miss most was the Wednesday night dinners with Mike at Long Beach, going to Domenico's Pizza and sharing some pizza and great coin talk. Mike spoke often about what a difference his faith made in his life, and I knew he and Laura were doing ministry work with their church. He, Laura and their church prayed for my wife during her battle with cancer, and I lost her around Christmas time too. Mike called to encourage me through the years, both as a friend and as a fellow coin dealer.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a call from Mikey, he wanted to see me. We arranged a weekday afternoon meeting at his place, right after he had gotten home from his daily visit to the hospital. Laura, his wife, brought me into the house. Mikey was sitting on his living room couch, which had been made up into a bed. He gently patted the couch cushion next to him, indicating he wanted me to sit down at his side so I did, and we proceeded to talk about coins, old friends, old stories, and alot of the fun and enjoyable times we had experienced together. I felt that Mikey was trying to say good-bye. He reached out his arm and gently grabbed my shoulder and looked me in the eye and said, "you know where I'm going, don't you?" Dale, "I'm not worried, I am going to Heaven" God Bless Him, that is where he is right now. Rest in Peace, My Friend.
Specializing in coins with "thin film interference" & "sulfur impregnated surfaces" due to hanging out with "old bags" and "wrappers"
When I began collecting Mike was the first person I spoke to and the first person I ever bought a coin from. Yes, it was a toned dollar.
Over the years he became a very dear friend. While many are sad at Mike's passing I am not. Yes, I will miss Mike being "here" but where he is now is so much better. You see, Mike is now with his (our) dear LORD. Mike became such a great witness of Christ's saving grace and it just filled every conversation we had. Heaven, if it's possible, just got a bit better. I can see our LORD looking at Mike and saying: "well done My good and faithful servent".
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting (eternal) life". John 3:16
I will get to see you again my friend in just a short while. But, today I celebrate your homegoing!
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers
Rest in peace. I will miss our hour long conversations about everything under the sun. I will never forget the Brazilian steak house you and I destroyed in Denver during the ANA. You are surely with your God now, I will miss you friend.
Sad news indeed. Anyone know what type of cancer he had?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
In the 1970s, a group of local silver dollar dealers would gather at Mike's house once a week for a mini-dollar dealer get-together. We'd buy and sell dollars with each other, talk dollars, and tell lies. It was me and Mike...and Hannes Tulving, Nick Buzolich (RIP), Thad Olson, Greg Roberts, Louie Moreno and others. What a fun time and what great dollars traded hands at Mike's house once a week. Mike sured loved his dollars, had a great eye for quality, and helped a lot of collectors.
Comments
I will miss him greatly.
Goodbye my friend and brother.
John Ruiz
Condolences to his family and friends.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
Over the years he became a very dear friend. While many are sad at Mike's passing I am not. Yes, I will miss Mike being "here" but where he is now is so much better. You see, Mike is now with his (our) dear LORD. Mike became such a great witness of Christ's saving grace and it just filled every conversation we had. Heaven, if it's possible, just got a bit better. I can see our LORD looking at Mike and saying: "well done My good and faithful servent".
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting (eternal) life". John 3:16
I will get to see you again my friend in just a short while. But, today I celebrate your homegoing!
Rest in peace. I will miss our hour long conversations about everything under the sun.
I will never forget the Brazilian steak house you and I destroyed in Denver during the ANA.
You are surely with your God now, I will miss you friend.
Rainbow Stars
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
RIP
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
RIP Mike F.
You would be proud I still have the silver dollars you asked me to hold onto.