Obituary
Michael Clair Robinson, 65, passed peacefully September 24, 2019, at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral, Florida. His loving wife Dena never left his side and promised him that she would continue his mission to let everyone know about the love of God.
Mike was born on June 18, 1954 to the late James Vaughn and Camella Ann Robinson in Caribou, Maine. The second of five children, it would be safe to call Mike a precocious child. While he wasn’t one to shy away from neighborhood shenanigans, he was also known to stand up to bullies, and was loyal to his friends.
Mike served in the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged upon the death of his father; his mother had passed earlier after an illness. He returned to Caribou to help raise his brother and sisters. While there, Mike met Dena, and the two knew immediately their search had ended. They were married January 12, 1980 in Cordova, Alaska. They soon added their sons Luke and Adam to the family, and they served as wonderful examples of loving partners, parents, and friends to those around them.
The bulk of Mike’s early professional life was spent in the Alaska seafood industry, where he started out sliming fish—don’t ask—and retired as the Vice President of Operations. His strong work ethic, fair demeanor, and charisma were clear to his work family, who found not only an inspiring manager but a steadfast friend.
Among Mike’s many passions was his love for Harley Davidson motorcycles and taking breathtaking trips with his wife in the Black Hills of South Dakota and along the mountain trails of Arkansas. And although health issues late in life made these trips difficult, he never lost his adventurous spirit, and always had a great story ready to entertain his grandkids.
Papa, as he was known to the kids, delighted in spoiling them rotten. His was the house of Yes, where you could always count on finding happy (and sometimes sugar-powered) grandkids, a few good laughs, some cold beer, and pictures that told the story of a good life lived well.
Mike is survived by his wife Dena; his children, Luke and Kellie Robinson of St. Cloud, MN, and Adam and Macie Robinson of Crystal, MN ; his grandchildren Evan, Keegan, Veronica, and Hazel; his sisters Sue Robinson and Ruth Quelch of Bentonville, Arkansas, Pat and Steven Gallop of Mars Hill, Maine, and Beth Gardner and the late Jimmy Gardner of Bangor, Maine; his mother-in-law Captola Paul, and his in-laws Greg and Birdena Paul, Sherry and Larry Knight, Sandra and Randy Chamberlain, Kathy and Mike Ouellette, and Reta and Greg Ricker; and the many touched by his ability to make them feel larger than life. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, James Shawn
Services will be held at 11:00am on October 12, 2019 at the Staples Church of Christ, 27343 490th Street, Staples, MN 56479; and at 10:30am on October 19, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Woodland, 494 Colby Siding Road, Woodland, Maine 04736.
Arrangements by Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society.
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