Michael David O'Leary

Michael David O’Leary, age 41, passed away on Thursday morning, February 15, 2024 from an aggressive form of cancer at his home in Fremont Michigan surrounded by his family.  Mike was born on November 26, 1982 in Edina, Minnesota to Mark David and Suzanne Kay (VanDeMore) O’Leary.

Mike graduated from O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2001.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2010, and his Juris Doctorate from Cooley Law School in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2014.

In 2007, following flight training in Arizona and Florida, Mike began flying for Pinnacle Airlines, later to become Endeavor Airlines, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  During his fifteen years at Endeavor Mike worked as a Captain and became a senior flight instructor.  In 2022, Mike began working for Delta Airlines at JFK Airport in New York City, flying domestic and international routes throughout the United States and the world.

In 2020, Mike was admitted to the practice of law in South Dakota.  Until the sudden onset of his illness in December, 2023, Mike was practicing law with his father at O’Leary Law Office located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Mike is survived by his wife Christina, and son Charles (age 8) both of Fremont, Michigan; stepchildren:  Taylor (future son-in-law Javier Michael), Arabella, and Harrington Cummings all of Fremont, Michigan; mother and father, Mark and Suzanne O’Leary of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sister, Katie O’Leary of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; In-laws, Debra and Gary Owen of Arcadia, Florida; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends throughout the world.  Mike was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Betty and Charles (C.J.) VanDeMore of Hudson, South Dakota; and by his paternal grandparents, Betty and Paul O’Leary of Virginia, Minnesota and Brownsville, Texas.  

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at a later time.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or Dream Flights.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com. Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont, Michigan.

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