Michael Spielmaker

Michael Alan Spielmaker, age 63, of Jenison, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 17, 2026, after a courageous fight. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. Though his body could no longer continue the fight, Mike faced life with the same strength, determination, and positive spirit that defined him throughout his life.

Mike was raised in Cascade, Michigan, and was a graduate of Forest Hills Central High School. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Green Berets, where he served in Beirut and on other missions. He loved his country deeply and was never far from an American flag. Anyone who knew Mike knew how proud he was to be an American and of the good old USA.

Mike was also a man of remarkable perseverance. He was the recipient of two heart transplants and a kidney transplant. Because of the extraordinary generosity of organ donors and their families, Mike was given the gift of additional time...years he was able to spend with his children, grandchildren, family, and friends. His family will always be deeply grateful for those precious gifts of life. Through all the challenges he faced, Mike continued to show an incredible will to live and a genuine love for the people around him. No matter how he was feeling or how difficult the day might have been, when someone asked Mike how he was doing, his answer was almost always the same: “Outstanding.” That one word captured so much of who he was...his attitude, his resilience, and his ability to keep moving forward.

Above all, Mike loved his family. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Kennedy Spielmaker and her fiancé, Patrick Hayford, and Damian (Lauren) Spielmaker; his grandchildren, Cade, and twins Forest and Evelyn; his mother, Sharon Spielmaker; his brother, Tom (Angela) Spielmaker; Heather Spielmaker, with whom he remained close and shared a lifelong bond through their family; and many aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins, friends, and fellow soldiers whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Spielmaker, and his brother, Steven Spielmaker.

Mike leaves behind a legacy of courage, patriotism, perseverance, and love. His family and friends will remember his strength, his unmistakable pride in his country, his love for his family, and his ever-present “outstanding” spirit. Though he will be deeply missed, they can take comfort in knowing that Mike has finished his fight and is now home.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”- 2 Timothy 4:7

There will be a graveside service at Saint Sebastian Catholic Cemetery in Byron Center, Michigan on Friday, August 21^st at 11 a.m. Those who wish to honor Mike’s memory may consider making a memorial contribution to an organization supporting organ donation, transplantation, and transplant recipients, including the American Transplant Foundation, Transplants.org, American Organ Transplant Association (AOTA), Donate Life America, or United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).