Michael "Mike" Duane Ringeisen

Michael “Mike” Duane Ringeisen, 86, of Kokomo met his Lord and Savior when he entered his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 4:00 AM from Ascension St. Vincent Hospital – Kokomo after enduring a brief illness. The first and only son of Everett and Rachael “Margaret” (Henry) Ringeisen, Mike was born on December 31,1938 in Kokomo. On August 21, 1960, at Beamer United Methodist Church in Kokomo, Mike married Nancy Larrison who survives.

After graduating Kokomo High School in 1956, Mike attended Taylor University and Indiana University- Kokomo. From 1961-65 (active duty) and 1965-67 (reserve duty), Mike proudly and humbly served in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of Staff Sargeant. During his time with the USAF, Mike worked as a radio intercept operator in the USAF’s Security Service, a selective and specialized communications and intelligence branch of the USAF. He spent most of his active service time deployed to Iraklion Air Station in Crete, Greece.  After his active military service, Mike worked as a skilled-trades machine repairman at Chrysler for more than 30 years.  In addition, he turned his love of photography into a successful business, and for more than 10 years, he operated Mike’s Photography, specializing in wedding photography.

Throughout his adult life, Mike was a HAM Radio Operator and enjoyed talking to others around the world. He liked to log his encounters and pinpoint them on a world map on the wall. A family man, Mike loved spending time with his family at various school and life events, activities, and gatherings. In addition, Mike liked to watch college football and basketball as well as Cubs baseball and Colts football. A dedicated follower of Christ, Mike read and studied his Bible daily, including while on his breaks at work. He enjoyed sharing his Christian faith with others, including his children, through his lifestyle, Scriptures, music, and testimony. Mike, along with Nancy, traveled to the Holy Land with an airbase tour group while he was stationed in Crete, and he counted this vacation as a blessing and a privilege. During this trip, he won a photography contest within his group for “Best Photo” which further spurred his photography hobby.  Mike was an active member of Fair Havens Christian and Missionary Alliance Church as well as Beamer United Methodist Church. In later years, he actively attended One Church, formerly known as First Church of the Nazarene. 

Along with Nancy, his wife of nearly 65 years, Mike is survived by his children: a son, Duane Ringeisen, of Lafayette and a daughter, Michelle Ringeisen, of Kokomo; sister, Karen (Mike) McCroskey of Lafayette; brothers-in-law, Mike (Debbie) Larrison and Terry Huffer of Kokomo; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and 4 special grand-dogs.

Preceding Mike in death were his parents, Everett and Margaret Ringeisen; sisters, Marcia Orem and Jean Huffer; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Jon Joseph; brothers-in-law Ray Douglas and Charles Orem; and several beloved family pets, including his cat, KC, and 3 special grand-dogs.

A funeral service celebrating Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Road in Kokomo. Pastor Dianne Wagner will officiate. Friends may visit the family at the funeral home from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, April 25, 2025 and 2:00 PM until the service on Saturday, April 26.  Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Entombment is scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025 at Sunset Memory Garden’s Mausoleum Chapel of Peace. Stout & Son Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to One Church’s “Lunch With Liz” or the Christian and Missionary Alliance’s Great Commission fund at www.cmalliance.org/give. Messages of condolence may be left at www.stoutandson.com.

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