(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
Michael R. Cholak, Jr. passed away from natural causes on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at his home.
Mike was born on September 22, 1969, to Michael R. Cholak Sr. and Patricia (Hase) Cholak.
Mike graduated from Tremper High School in 1987 where he met the love of his life, Julie Kuryanowicz. Julie and Mike were high school sweethearts and were married on 8/3/91 and shared a lifetime of love in their 33-year marriage. Their greatest loves were their two extremely beautiful children, Rachael Teagan (Mikey Usher) and Evan Michael (Madison Earing). There is nobody in the world Mike loved more than his wife and children.
Mike graduated from UW Milwaukee in 1991 where he earned a degree in accounting. He then went on to pass the CPA in one try after only studying for 5 days on a program he found online. He furthered his education, earning his Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate from Marquette University. Mike was always a student, learning something new every day.
Mike began his accounting career at Blue Cross/Blue Shield and moved on to Ernst and Young. He was always looking for new challenges, and places to fulfill his curiosity which landed him at Snap-On Tools as an auditor. Never a formal suit and tie guy, Mike felt like he needed to break away from corporate America and, like Frank Sinatra once said, do it his way. Mike, along with a friend, opened Cove Realty. The “cove” was a popular high school hangout on the dead-end street of 68th street, where Mike and Julie eventually bought their dream home. After real estate became too easy, Mike started his entrepreneurship in the popular bar scene in Kenosha, owning Captain Mike’s, Uncle Mike’s, Mikey’s, Mike’s Sportsbook, and Mike’s Chicken and Donuts. Mike finally found something where he could be himself and entertain people with shake-a-day, bad jokes, and good bourbon. If you knew Mike, you knew he was always looking to do more, learn more, and experience more and because he knew he needed to leave his mark on the world, he began a professorship at UW Parkside teaching young people that life is about so much more than what meets the eye. He taught Accounting, Law and Ethics, and multiple business classes.
Mike kept life interesting by continuously exploring numerous interests and hobbies including but not limited to gardening, pasta making, soup recipes, slot jockeying, cards, playing pickleball, teaching himself the guitar, bourbon tasting and collecting, betting on the ponies, biking, motorcycling, tattoos, attending Queen of Hearts drawings, wherever they may be, Bravo TV, searching for precious metals with a metal detector, ancestry, pop culture, golf, fidget spinners, magic tricks, street wear, craft cocktails, supper clubs, shoe collecting, celebrity chasing, thinking he was the “fat Brad Pitt”, healing crystals, jet skiing, snow skiing, bible reading, hockey, and most importantly, making the best memories with his friends and family.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ernie Heal. He is survived by his wife and children, his in-laws, Ron and Janet Kuryanowicz, his brother Terry Heal, sister Kathy (Mike) Jefferson, brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Sue Kuryanowicz, nieces Morgan, Peyton, Patty, and Peggy, nephew Carter and best friend Kristine (Dicky) Coshun.
Memorial and visitation will be held at one of Mike’s favorite places in Kenosha, The Moose Club – 3003 30th Ave. Family and friends can visit with the Cholak’s on Friday, November 15 from 12:30-4:30 with words of remembrance at 3:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation –
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (national office)
4550 Montgomery Ave.
Suite 1100 N
Bethesda, MD 20814
To honor Mike, please plan a Sunday Funday with your friends and laugh at the ridiculousness of our world. Cheers!
Casey Family Options Funerals & Cremations
3016 75th Street Kenosha WI 53142
262-653-0667
www.caseyfamilyoptions.com
Mon - Fri: 8AM - 4PM
(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
David Lauer says:
I worked with Mike in the Internal Audit Department of Snap-on Tools, accompanying him on audits of Division Offices. I will never forget the time his ThinkPad laptop was running slowly as he was working on our report in the office outside San Diego. Mike got so angry that he punched the screen. The laptop went backwards – and came back down with the lid in three pieces. He looked at us and asked if he could use one of our ThinkPads! Not one of us said yes! He was intense…and VERY intelligent. My sympathies to his family and close friends.
Evan Cholak says:
That sounds exactly like the Mike we all loved. Thank you for sharing this story, you provided us all with a much needed laugh.
David Lauer says:
Your dad was unforgettable. Truly, one of a kind. That story remains vivid in my aging memory, and it happened almost 30 years ago. I’m so sad he died so young. But he did not get “cheated” in life! He lived it to the fullest. I did not know he was born on my brother’s 22nd (“golden”) birthday. God’s peace to all of your family.
Jeremy Olson says:
Well where do I start with Mike? Sitting down at Hoot and Ole’s in Austin before the bruins games watching him jam-a-tab as much as could. Betting over under on how many penalty minutes Reggie would have. The 19 minutes inbetween periods so we could go across the street for a quick one or him always getting mad at me because I tried to use his Torges points. Well Mike, I’m using them now. Thank you for being that crazy guy from Kenosha that came to see us often. You will be missed by me and the entire Austin Bruins family. Godspeed my friend
Ron says:
He loved those intermissions…say HI to the gang for us Ole ….
Jen Dooley-Hogan says:
Deepest sympathies to all who loved Mike. When we first moved to Allendale, I found him in our fridge at the end of a party, making a plate because Julie was out of town. He was that kind of guy—the kind you wanted to listen to, laugh with, and send home with a plate of leftovers to enjoy. He will be deeply missed.
Janet says:
Sending warm thoughts and gentle hugs 🤗 to you and your family also sending strength.
Peace be with you
Janet 🦋🦋
Riley Edquist says:
Mike was the best professor I ever had and I looked forward to going to his class. He was funny and he had a way with teaching that was so meaningful. Will miss him.
Al Bella says:
I met Mike and Julie on their wedding day for I was their photographer. If I remember correctly, it was a very warm day. Mike was the coolest. He seemed like nothing could phase him. From doing a lot of weddings I can usually tell a lot about people from having my interaction with them. I could tell right away the love they had for each other was wonderful. He was a person who had a lust for life and wanted all his friends to come along for the ride. I had a chance to hang with him a number of times after the wedding and they were memorable. He is someone I could have hung with a little longer. Rest in Peace my friend.
Rebecca Madorna says:
Cholak ..I’m in shock
A long time ago you always had a Czechvar ready for me to consume.
Tonight I will drink one in your honor
And then a good glass of bourbon
Rest in peace
Donna Kuryanowicz says:
Mike was my niece’s husband. I met him just once or twice, and wish we could have known each other better. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend, from what I’ve heard. Such a generous, accomplished and overall nice guy, with a taste for bourbon – my kind of man! I feel the pain of such a great loss to his loved ones, and wish them peace and comfort in having the good fortune of having Mike in their lives. Okay, and I absolutely had a Sunday Funday here in AZ in his honor!
Laura McClure says:
I worked with Mike at UW Parkside and learned that we shared many friends in the community. He has touched the lives of SO many. He will be truly missed. Prayers and thoughts go out to his family.
Gloria Boscher says:
Mike was my daughter Sue’s brother in law and I spent many birthday parties and a couple of Thanksgiving dinners with him. Although he may have looked like Grizley Adam’s he had a warm and gentle side to him. My sincere condolences to Julie, Rachael and Evan. He will be missed at all our family gatherings. Love to you all.
Dan Rosenberg says:
Mike was my advisor through undergraduate studies at UW-Parkside after I switched to a Business major.
His unique demeanor and passion for business helped to shape the person I am today.
He’ll be sorely missed and fondly remembered.
Michelle Herr says:
Mike was my accounting professor at UW-Parkside in my 2nd year of college. If I learned anything in that class, it was that I didn’t have to limit myself to one passion. He was such a great guy to learn from and always had interesting stories to share. I am so sorry for your loss. He truly was a wonderful human being and had so much to share with the world.
Jack LeRose says:
In my 68 years I have met some cool cats and some fellow CPA’s with a little extra for yous’ ( NJ Licensed ) but Mike? My God, and I thought I was running counter clockwise. Smart and loving is the Narrow Path’ and Mike walked it his way, his timing and God’s grace by his side. Ring that bell Mikey and may his spirit carry his family forward.
Elizabeth Wieties says:
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. I was a student of his at UW-Parkside. He taught three of my classes and I genuinely enjoyed him as a professor. He found so many ways to make the class burst into laughter and his lectures were always interesting. I was in shock when I saw the email about his passing. He will be missed and will always be remembered by the countless amounts of people he touched.
Laura Gregorski says:
I got to know Mike through the businesses when he became a Tourism Partner with Visit Kenosha. Over the years, we talked more about business, people, and wild ideas. Mike would laugh when he saw me coming and greeted me with a “what’s it gonna cost me today”, knowing there was always a project of event being planned. But he was always the first to up the ante and take a concept to the next level, too. We easily got off topic when chatting.
When the Museum Crawl event launched, Captain’s was the first business to sign up. Mike ended up volunteering three of his properties to sponsor the event by the time we were done talking. He came to the events, played the games, and then Instantly started dreaming of what the next year would bring. (I also credit him with making Jeanette and I such good friends!) He wanted to see cool things happen in our community – unique dining, fun events, things that made Kenosha feel alive. I hope that spirit carries on in all of us. Thanks for encouraging us to push the limits, for the laughs, and especially all the support, Mike. You were one of a kind!!
And to Julie and the entire family – thanks for sharing him with all of us! I am so sorry for your loss.
Dr Peter C Knight says:
Mike was definitely one of a kind. I guess I was his boss in a sense as Chair of the Business Department for 8 years. I was always amazed at his relaxed willingness to help us out and be flexible in covering classes and helping students given how much he packed into his too short life. He gave so much to others in so many ways. He will be very much missed, and I’m sad that he didn’t have the opportunity to pursue what he told me once was his ultimate dream to open a Mikes style restaurant in Cape Cod once the kids were totally established He was a true original
Kathleen K Jefferson says:
Mikey, as I will always call him was my baby brother. Born when I was almost fourteen, he was the last little pest that loved to irritate his sister. But as we aged, he became the one I always called when I just needed to talk or wanted some advice. I’m going to miss those late-night calls we shared. Mikey you went away so suddenly. We didn’t say our goodbyes. But siblings can never be parted. Our love lives on forever and our precious memories never die. Mikey grew to be a remarkable man, husband, and father and I’m proud to call him my baby brother. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Aj says:
Mr. Cholak was one of those people who struck you as both cool and intimidating at first, but as you got to know him, you realized his tough exterior was just his way of pushing us to be our best, and for that, we are all grateful
Audrey Finnigan says:
So sorry for losing Mike. Knew him and family . Wow he filled up quite a life in 55 years! Can’t come to memorial. Love to family. Was good friends with his parents.
Donna Kuryanowicz says:
To the Cholak and Kuryanowicz families, and Mike’s friends: I will be with you in heart and soul for Mike’s final service. Please feel my love, hugs and sorrow for his passing. XOXO
Dr. Michele Gee says:
As Dean of the College of Business, Economics, and Computing at UW-Parkside, I wish to express our deep condolences and send prayers to his family and all of us whose lives he touched. Mike was a passionate educator dedicated to his teaching and students in our Department of Business where he taught Accounting and Business Law for more than two decades. He was truly a unique and very interesting individual and colleague. He talked with me about his family, and his love and concern for them. Mike’s “can do” perspective and “will do” attitude were truly remarkable. May he rest in peace after positively making a difference in so many people’s lives. We miss Mike, our dearly revered colleague, and will always remember him.
Michelle Nordquist says:
After taking a long hiatus, in 2010, I was wrapping up my final semester at Parkside. Course load was 4 accounting classes, with tenured Professors, and Business Law. Had known Mike only as being one of the boys that owned “Mike’s” but not much of his background, nor education, besides being an owner of Cove Realty. Having had more than a few ‘less than stellar’ adjunct professors, I walked into class, saw Mike, and thought to myself…oh great, a beer guzzling, bar owner teaching law. I dropped all expectations of learning anything about law but he was going to prove me wrong time and time again throughout the semester. He could never eclipse my most favorite, esteemed, accounting professor but he definitely was my second favorite. He opened up class passing out the syllabus and as soon as we had them in our hands, he introduced himself and said, “I gave you my number but don’t you dare call me or waste my time telling me you’re running late or not showing up to class. If you don’t want to show up, I do not care. Don’t…I probably won’t even realize you’re not in class. Don’t be stupid to bring it to my attention because then I will drop your grade for not being here. The only time, and I’m telling you the ONLY time it is okay to call me is if some dumbass rear ends you or you get in an accident. That is when you call me. I don’t care what time it is, you call me, I’ll answer. Got it? Lose my number unless you need an attorney.” Of all my classes, attendance was almost always 100% during that semester. At the start of one class a few weeks later, he gets up from his desk and asks, “Does anybody watch Pawn Stars? Well, I was just out in Vegas so I had to check it out. It’s a dump. I wanted to buy something that had aired on an episode, well, they didn’t have anything except for this.” He held up what we would find out was a scrimshaw. He handed it to the person in the front row to pass it around the class. It was an engraved 1800’s whale tooth with a stamp on the end of it. He tied the purchase into negotiating, contract via handshake being legally binding, etc. The scrimshaw got passed around, when the last person brought it back to him, it was in two pieces. The stamp had fallen off. He inquired who broke it but nobody was fessing up. “Oh great, I paid $800 for this. Thought it was a good investment and was going to sell it on EBay and make a few bucks. ‘Scrimshaw as seen on Pawn Stars’ Turns out, it’s not that easy. Have to consult NOAA and now even if I could sell it, you guys broke it. I should have never went to Vegas.” That’s a glimpse of how he taught. He shared real life experiences, he injected humor-sometimes very dry, but he was what made a great professor, very passionate about the subject he taught. Nobody can say he didn’t give it his all to implant all his knowledge and expertise into the craniums of each and every one of us. They say only the good die young, he was definitely a good one. Hope he realized how many lives he impacted for the better, gave hope to, and how he will be remembered for so many years to come.
Troy Woodrow says:
I first met Mike at my house 6701 3rd Ave as I threw a party and Mike was invited by a mutual friend. He was in my kitchen at night wearing sunglasses, lol. We quickly became friends and for the next 11 years there are too many stories to write. A funny one was when I left Mike at my house with another neighbor to hit the bars solo as they wouldn’t go they videotaped themselves making a late night breakfast with all my stuff in the fridge while in my kitchen and sent it to me. Another time I took Mike and Julie to my friends dude ranch in CO, Mike and Julie were up late watching some comedy and laughing so hard a right guest from Europe in the next cabin complained the next day, lol. I always stopped in Uncle Mike’s Highway Pub on my way through on many many road trips and just days before he passed away he was buying me beers at his place, gave me a tour of the restaurant being built next door where he owned the building (as he was helping a neighboring craft beer business) and asking if I was hungry as he was going to give me lunch on the house. Mike”s last Facebook message to me was “you and I need to travel together eat and drink and sell shit” lol, classic Cholak. Going to miss you my friend, former neighbor, and confidant.