George "Mickey" O'Reilly, Jr.

Trenary

George “Mickey” Michael O’Reilly, Jr., age 85, of Trenary, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at his home, under the loving care of his family.  He was born on May 5, 1930 in Alanson, Michigan to the late George Michael and Caroline (Vick) O’Reilly, Sr.  Mickey grew up in his family home with his brother and three sisters in Brutus, Michigan.  He enlisted into the United States Army in February, 1948 where he spent most of his time working in the Motor Pool at Fort Dix, New Jersey before being honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1952.  He returned home to Brutus and soon began dating his childhood neighbor, and on July 25, 1953 Mickey married Ann Carter and later had three children.  They moved to Strongs Corner, where Mickey worked as an electric linesman, working across the state where work was needed.  Mickey and his family moved back to Brutus where he farmed beef cattle and worked for the State of Michigan as a tower man stationed at the Wolverine Tower until it was closed in the early 1960’s.  Mickey then became a licensed journeyman plumber and worked with an old classmate installing and repairing furnaces.  In 1969, the family moved to their current home in Trenary where Mickey continued doing the job he cherished most, farming.    In 1980 the farm transitioned from beef cattle to dairy.  In addition to farming, Mickey worked as a plumber and earned his Master Plumber Certification.   Mickey became a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local #111.  Starting in 1969, Mickey worked for Becks in Escanaba and later Burger & King and Fuel Economy.  He worked on jobs at the mines, Mead Paper, building the Rapid River and Superior Central Schools and Iron Mountain Jail among others before retiring in 1990.  In 1991 Mickey sold the last of the cattle, but still loved caring for the farm, working in the garden, and baling and selling hay for many years.  In their retirement, Mickey and Ann enjoyed traveling.  Their adventures took them as far south as Fort Myers, Florida and Comfort, Texas and as far north as the Arctic Circle in Alaska.  Many of the trips were pulling their fifth-wheel trailer, and since 2001 all of them they were accompanied by Mickey and Ann’s travel companion Dusti the cat.  Dusti would ride on Mickey’s shoulder watching out the windows as the miles went by.

He is survived by his wife of over sixty-two years – Ann O’Reilly of Trenary; children – Martha (Don) Verbrigghe of Chatham, Gary (Katie) O’Reilly of Marinette, Wisconsin, and Dennis (Bianca Wierman) O’Reilly of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren – Dawn (Kai) Verbrigghe, Jennifer (Chris) Engelken, Suzanne (David) Garcia, T.J. Verbrigghe, Anita O’Reilly, Brooke Verbrigghe , and Shawn Verbriggghe; great-grandchildren – Talan, Conor, and Harper Garcia, Sepp Engelken, and Ella Stabell;  siblings – Frances Cargnino, Catherine (Richard) O’Reilly-Freeland, Marguerite Mourer, and Terry (Betty) O’Reilly, numerous nieces and nephews, and cat – Dusti.  Mickey was preceded in death by his parents - George and Caroline; brothers-in-law – Robert Mourer and Larry Cargnino; and dogs – Rags and Shorty.

No public services will be held at this time.