Mike was born in New Ulm and graduated from NUHS in 1968. He went on to study auto mechanics at Mankato VoTech and was kicked out two weeks prior to graduation for refusing to cut his facial hair. His community involvement started at age 30 when he joined a buddy, Al Zwach, in becoming actively involved in the New Ulm Jaycees. Shortly after that, the New Ulm Area Sport Fisherman Club was founded and Mike jumped into that with both feet and remained active with the club until his final days. Many great friendships evolved from NUASF!

Shortly before his heart attack in 2005, his buddy, Bob Bezdichek, convinced Mike to relive their early racing years. Mike towed home, from Nebraska, a 1964 Ford Fairlane, similar to the Fairlane he raced in the ’60’s. He began a frame-up restoration and finished it by 2007 so that he could drive it to their retirement home in AZ. After retiring from the New Ulm Power Plant in 2008, Mike and Sharon joined his Fairlane, already parked in their garage in Maricopa, AZ. Mike did not enjoy being idle; his retirement in AZ lasted two weeks before he started working at Francisco Grande Golf Resort in Casa Grande. If he wasn’t working on the course, he was playing. He said it was his best job ever!

Health reasons brought Mike and Sharon back to MN to be near their children. Mike’s final part time job was stocking at Fleet Farm. He would have worked for free as he so enjoyed the job and his co-workers. He was scheduled to work on September 6th, the day after his passing. Sharon had to call in dead for him, which is exactly how long he wanted to continue working!

Days before his passing he was able to fulfill his final wish to race his Fairlane one last time at Brainerd Speedway with his closest lifelong friend, Randy Griebel. Mike didn’t get the greatest numbers on the track, but he was able to burn rubber and had a weekend full of friendship and the sounds of the engines he loved!

A lunch and open celebration of Mike’s life will be held at the New Ulm American Legion on Friday, September 20th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty (Portner) Gleisner, his stepfather, John Gleisner, and his sister Joanne (Deinken) Reckner. Mike is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sharon (Domeier); their children, April, Kara (Justin Havemeier), Mark, and Matt; his grandchildren, Lillian, Penny, Aubrey, and Phoebe; his sister, Beverly (Bob) Pipken; and his brothers, Bruce (Mary) Deinken, and Brian Deinken.

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