Our dear friend Mike passed away Friday, March 16, 2018. He had been battling respiratory problems and they took their toll. Mike will be remembered as a kind soul with a big heart. He will be greatly missed.
To Mr. Gravel , Billy , Chris and the entire Gravel family.
I’m sorry to hear of Mike's passing. We all grew up next door to each other and I have a lot of great and crazy memories. Mike's dad was a super standup guy. I respected him. He was a Hobart firefighter and was the first one to respond to my grandfather having a heart attack in his front yard in his mid-70's. They were unable to save him that day but the story my father told me about how Mr. Gravel was working hard doing CPR and refusing to give up trying to save his life is a story I will never forget. Mike was in my class of 1980. We hung out as friends and neighbors. I remember the summer when Mike and the Gravel family open their home to a Brazilian exchange student for one summer. It showed this family was a special family and thought of others. I had never seen or heard of any one doing that until I witness it through them .I also have one of my greatest memories with the Gravel family the day they decided they were going to jack up a home that sat on 10th street next to Foreman school and put it on a large heavy duty house trailer, and move the whole thing down to 14th street and park it on their new lot. I had the privilege of riding on the very top peek of the house's roof...We had multiple police escort cars in front and back and we moved down the road about 2 miles an hour..When we came up on a cable line that was crossing the road and hung too low for the roof top.. I had a special pole I would hook them with and lift them up so they would clear the house's roof. I rode this house at the very top. (which to a 12 year old kid was VERY high ) looking down on everything like I was king for a day. It was great..Thank you to Kim Egbert Moravec for giving everyone a heads up on Mike's health. Because of it I had a chance to talk with Mike last week and we had a discussion about faith...... He's in good hands today.... I’m glad he lives with no more pain or discomfort. Mike had a special spirit that never threatened anyone, and always carried a smile. Rest in peace my friend.
Something wonderful about Mike, though I didn’t know him beyond the halls of Hobart high, I remember his kindness. High school could be a difficult time and sometimes hard to nagavate socially. Mike was always a friendly face for me. He always had a kind word, a warm “Hello” and something funny to say about school, a class, and poke fun at a teacher or two. There were days for me that that albeit brief, warm encounter with him changed my day for the bettter. I will remember him with affection.
To his family and friends, so very sorry for your loss.
What a terrible loss. I was setting on my front porch the summer after we graduated. Mike pulls up in his opel, swings the door open, full of life (and wine) and starts to tell stories and laugh for about an hour with me. I was tired from working all day and out of the blue comes Mike. A simple hour that I will never forget and still makes me laugh. An opel- no shit.
Mike is a Brickie brother whose friendship, humor, smile and ability to make me-us laugh will forever be remembered. And missed.
My heart goes out to the Gravel family, the class of 80-our family. We lost a good dude...
Mike Toneff
To Mr. Gravel , Billy , Chris and the entire Gravel family.
I’m sorry to hear of Mike's passing. We all grew up next door to each other and I have a lot of great and crazy memories. Mike's dad was a super standup guy. I respected him. He was a Hobart firefighter and was the first one to respond to my grandfather having a heart attack in his front yard in his mid-70's. They were unable to save him that day but the story my father told me about how Mr. Gravel was working hard doing CPR and refusing to give up trying to save his life is a story I will never forget. Mike was in my class of 1980. We hung out as friends and neighbors. I remember the summer when Mike and the Gravel family open their home to a Brazilian exchange student for one summer. It showed this family was a special family and thought of others. I had never seen or heard of any one doing that until I witness it through them .I also have one of my greatest memories with the Gravel family the day they decided they were going to jack up a home that sat on 10th street next to Foreman school and put it on a large heavy duty house trailer, and move the whole thing down to 14th street and park it on their new lot. I had the privilege of riding on the very top peek of the house's roof...We had multiple police escort cars in front and back and we moved down the road about 2 miles an hour..When we came up on a cable line that was crossing the road and hung too low for the roof top.. I had a special pole I would hook them with and lift them up so they would clear the house's roof. I rode this house at the very top. (which to a 12 year old kid was VERY high ) looking down on everything like I was king for a day. It was great..Thank you to Kim Egbert Moravec for giving everyone a heads up on Mike's health. Because of it I had a chance to talk with Mike last week and we had a discussion about faith...... He's in good hands today.... I’m glad he lives with no more pain or discomfort. Mike had a special spirit that never threatened anyone, and always carried a smile. Rest in peace my friend.
Mike Toneff and the Toneff family
Rebecca Cruz
Something wonderful about Mike, though I didn’t know him beyond the halls of Hobart high, I remember his kindness. High school could be a difficult time and sometimes hard to nagavate socially. Mike was always a friendly face for me. He always had a kind word, a warm “Hello” and something funny to say about school, a class, and poke fun at a teacher or two. There were days for me that that albeit brief, warm encounter with him changed my day for the bettter. I will remember him with affection.
To his family and friends, so very sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Cruz
Richard Glenn
What a terrible loss. I was setting on my front porch the summer after we graduated. Mike pulls up in his opel, swings the door open, full of life (and wine) and starts to tell stories and laugh for about an hour with me. I was tired from working all day and out of the blue comes Mike. A simple hour that I will never forget and still makes me laugh. An opel- no shit.
Mike is a Brickie brother whose friendship, humor, smile and ability to make me-us laugh will forever be remembered. And missed.
My heart goes out to the Gravel family, the class of 80-our family. We lost a good dude...