OBITUARY MICHAEL EDWIN HOCHGESANG August 3, 1944 – December 7, 2018 With his wife, Barb, by his side, Michael (Mike) Edwin Hochgesang passed away on December 7, 2018. On this day, he beat Parkinson’s Disease, which he had courageously battled for more than 16 years, by moving beyond where the disease could hurt him. In an undeniable testament of Mike’s love and devotion to the love of his life, he left this earth exactly 50 years to the day that he proposed marriage to Barb.
Mike was a friend to all and a true family man; the kindness in his smile and in his baby blue eyes betrayed his somewhat intimidating height and stature. He was a loyal friend, with most of his close friendships spanning multiple decades and thousands of miles. His dedication to Barb and their three daughters, Mindy, Julie, and Suzy, was unwavering, with great love shown in his selfless gestures.
His free time was spent at the soccer fields coaching or refereeing his daughters’ teams or on father-daughter Indian Princesses getaways. He shuttled his daughters to hundreds of piano lessons and sporting events, wrote countless college tuition checks, beamed with pride at every graduation ceremony, was always available for a safe ride home, and was truly invested and involved in his daughters’ and grandchildren’s lives. He and Barb found the perfect complement in each other and created a lasting partnership based on respect and commitment, a shared faith, and a mutual love of travel and adventure.
Together, they raised their girls to be strong, independent and adventurous, yet also grounded by deep Hoosier roots. Together, they lived in Ohio, Germany, and California and traveled to 46 states and 20 countries. Together, they loved and laughed and forgave.
Together, they celebrated 49 wedding anniversaries and 50 years of committed love, and witnessed their family grow larger with the births of each of their five grandchildren. Together, they were an amazing example of what marriage is: “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”. Mike was easily recognized by his deep voice and his booming laugh.
He had a witty sense of humor, with tears of laughter often streaming down his face well in advance of the punchline. He was a man of generosity, giving of his time and talents during multiple church work-service projects to rural Appalachia and as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels. He was a man of faith, raising his family in the Lutheran church and serving as an active and involved member of each congregation to which he belonged.
He also believed in the beauty of music, singing bass in church choirs for 56 years, playing piano and organ, serving as a Sunday School music leader, and most recently, singing in the Tremble Clefs and Casta del Sol Chorale. Mike was born on August 3, 1944, in Jasper, Indiana, the youngest of two sons born to Irma and Edwin Hochgesang. His boyhood was filled with family and church activities, Little League baseball, typical small-town boyhood rebellion, and music.
Mike attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, graduating with a BA in Accounting in 1966 and a Masters of Business Accounting in 1968. After graduation, he accepted a job with the Packard Electric Division f General Motors in Warren, Ohio. Mike and Barb were married on July 12, 1969, and soon after, began their family together.
In 1990, Mike’s job with Packard Electric took the family to Duesseldorf, Germany for three years, and in 1996, he and Barb moved Mission Viejo, California, where he worked at Delphi General Motors in Irvine, California, until he retired in 2002, after 34 years of professional dedication to the General Motors Company. Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Irma Sophia Hochgesang, his father, Edwin “Butch” Anthony Hochgesang, and his brother, Thomas Paul Hochgesang. He is survived by his wife, Barb Hochgesang; his daughters, Mindy Hochgesang, Julie Melberg, and Suzy Van Beurden; five grandchildren, Sophia Melberg, Henry Melberg, Sebastian Hochgesang, Charlotte Van Beurden, and Coral Van Beurden; and countless cherished cousins and friends.
A celebration of Mike’s life will take place at Mount of Olives Lutheran Church (24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo) on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 10:30 AM. His family requests that, in lieu of flowers, any contributions to his legacy be made in memory of Mike, either to support research for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease through the Michael J. Fox Foundation (www. michaeljfox.org/get-involved/donation2.
php) or to support the Music & Arts Program at Concordia University Irvine (www. cui. edu/giving/online-donation).
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