Our beloved Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, Michael (Mike) Vaselenak (92) of Lethbridge, passed away suddenly on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Chinook Regional Hospital. We will miss him so very much.
 Mike was born to Michael and Mary Vaselenak in Lethbridge on April 21,1932. He got his first job in grade 6 at Mihalik's Grocery in Lethbridge. He loved playing baseball and broom ball with his brothers and friends. In the 1950s, Mike played baseball with the Lethbridge Miners and the Lethbridge Cubs. He enjoyed feeding the birds and has a Crow friend who returns every year.

In 1957, Mike married Freda Davies, and they had 3 daughters, Sharon, Dianne, and Lisa.

In 1968, Mike started as Assistant Manager and Manager of Loblaws stores in Lethbridge.

After that, "Big Mike" became the Manager of Bert's Grocery in Picture Butte until his retirement at age 65. (He had a great time working there with Bert, Al, Monika, Rita, Donna, Murray, Rick, Mike T, Sheri, etc... along with the fun Associated Grocery trips they would take, he would talk fondly about that time often). Mike was also on the Board of Directors of Lethbridge Central Savings and Credit Union.
 After his retirement, Mike enjoyed gardening (his specialty was growing tomatoes and cucumbers), doing the WonderWord game in the Lethbridge Herald every day, reading John Grisham books, listening to his classic country playlist every evening, cheering for the Toronto Blue Jays & the Edmonton Oilers, and going for coffee, to the casino, & golfing with wonderful friends Ron, Margaret, John, Bob, Felicia, Marie, Ian, Anne, Ted, Dick, Clark, Lorraine, Blanche, Shirley, George S., etc...)

Mike also loved to cook. Some of his favourite things to make were lazy-man cabbage rolls, scalloped potatoes, apple sauce (from the apples off the tree in his yard), his mother's recipe for turkey stuffing, peanut butter cookies, breaded pork cutlets, cinnamon buns, lemon pie (he loved anything lemon),

chow mein (a dish he started making last year), pork tenderloin with mushroom gravy, and beef stew. He was really looking forward to trying his hand at making elephant ears (his most-treasured treat at Whoop-Up Days).
 Mike made many cherished friends over the years through work, sports, the singles club,

the Credit Union, and the neighborhoods he lived in. Some, like Jim Cattoni, were life-long friends.

Mike loved his family and treasured the time spent with them.

 Mike is survived by daughters Dr. Sharon Vaselenak (Dr. Glen Zenith), Dianne Vaselenak, and Dr. Lisa Chater (Mark); grandchildren, Dr. Mila Zenith (Peter Dushenski), Laura Zenith (Fred Punter), Michael Zenith (Olia), and Kathleen Zenith; great grandchildren, Niko and Ari Dushenski, Julian and Maxim Zenith, and Bradley and Hayley Punter-Zenith; ex-wife & good Friend, Freda Davies Wapple; nephews Larry Rasmussen, Steven Raben, Curtiss Vaselenak, and Rory Vaselenak; nieces Lorna Rasmussen, Linda Rasmussen, Cari MacLean, Cindi Vaselenak, Monique Raben-Struik, and Shannon Doyle. Mike is also survived by beloved dog, Rigby, and loving cats, Zedd, Marty, Luke, and Neo.

Mike was pre-deceased by his parents, Michael and Mary Vaselenak; his sister, Mary Raben; and brothers, George Vaselenak and John Vaselenak.
 Mike's family wishes to thank the wonderful home care givers, nurses, and Doctors, who helped Mike over the years, along with his amazing Neighbours. Angels on Earth.
A special thank you to the family and friends who visited Mike in the Hospital, you cheered up his spirits and brought him such joy.

A Celebration of Mike's Life will be held in Spring 2025. An announcement will be made closer to that date.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Last Chance Cat Ranch Rescue, https://www.thelastchancecatranch.com/, Misty Creek Dog Rescue, https://mistycreekdogrescue.com/, the Food Bank,  https://lethbridgefoodbank.ca/or
a Charity of your choice.

Please share any stories or memories that you may have of Mike in the comments. Mike's family will treasure those.