Mike Storm passed away in August of 2013, at age 72.  He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife Carolle, who died of cancer at age 56.  His older brother, Bill, and son-in-law Mel Llitke, also preceded Mike in death.  His remaining brother, Stuart "Bud" Storm, Class of '57 at St. Louis Park High, said that Mike had begun showing signs of dementia 3 or 4 years ago, and progressively became worse, resulting in Alzheimer's Disease.  His Alzheimer's took a serious turn several months ago, and finally took his life.

After graduation from SLP High School, Mike enrolled at the University of Minnesota.  He spent about a year and a half studying there, where he met his wife, Carolle, at a party.  They were married in 1962.  A daughter, Shelly, followed later that year, and a son, Jon, in 1964 and daughter, Sue, in 1965.  Mike and Carolle had a wonderful life together raising their children.  His daughter, Sue, said that her parents, brother and sister fully enjoyed what life had given them growing up in St. Louis Park.  Mike never arm-twisted his children to join in any particular sport in school or pursue any particular academic field, but to just do whatever they felt personally compelled to accomplish. 

Many will recall that Mike Storm was the goalie on our championship Hockey Team during our senior year.  He had played on that hockey team all three years in high school and was a member of the Lettermen's Club.  Sports in general was a large part of Mike's life.  But he didn't cajole his son or grandchildren to follow him into ice hockey as a participant.  Instead, Mike played the part of a supportive parent and watched them in the sports they chose for themselves.  Sue said that her dad was a loving father and "one hell of a guy!"

Mike's wife Carolle had a lot of health issues later in her own life, and Mike took her often to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, in attempt to get for her the best health care possible.  But cancer ravaged her body in many forms and claimed her far too early.  That seemed to change Mike, according to his children; and he had a hard time adjusting to Carolle's loss, as one would naturally expect.

Mike grew up at his parent's home at 3229 Sumpter Avenue.  He didn't move far from the homestead.  He spent his adult life at 3105 Louisiana Ave., not far from SLP High School.  Mike spent the early part of his work life as a general store manager for Genuine Parts Company, which later became a NAPA parts store.  He worked there over 20 years.  After that he moved among several manufacturing companies, such as Lift Parts Service of St. Paul, which produced parts for fork lifts.  Later he joined Cesco Products, which manufactured sheet metal products.  Cesco decided to move its company to Wisconsin, and offered Mike a job there, if he wished to move.  But Mike had never left St. Louis Park his entire life, and wasn't about to start a new life elsewhere in his 60s.  He took early retirement in 2002, and continued to live at home in St. Louis Park.  His daughter, Sue, lived there too and took care of her father until the end of his life.

Some of our classmates fondly recall playing on the Texa-Tonka Shopping Center Midget Football Team with Mike Storm in 1953.  Mike's dad, Bill Storm Sr., was our coach.  Classmates like Al Thompson, Bruce Elliasen, Jeff Blomberg, Bill Kerwin, Al Moran, Mike Swenberger, Ron and Robert Cady, Peter Joing and Roger Johnson, to name a few, enjoyed playing with Mike on that team.  Playing on that team was very special, and made all of us that much stronger as lifetime friends.

Mike's brother Bud, and son Jon, recalled that sports of all kinds was a "prime mover" for Mike Storm.  Betting on the outcome of sporting contests was an important passtime for Mike.  He was attracted to a side-line of taking bets on games and working with a sports "bookie" to bring those bets into the Las Vegas betting establishment.  There is no doubt that being the go-between from "betters" to "bookies" occasionally put the squeeze on Mike, financially, and he paid a price for participating in that level of shady endeavor.  His close friends even dubbed Mike a "bookies right hand man."  If there is room in Heaven for a bookie, Mike Storm would be our choice to keep interest alive in the outcome of professional sports.  And if there is room in Heaven for a great hockey goalie, Mike Storm gets our "two thumbs up!"