Michael 'Mike' Brook Sanders

WHITE PINE, Mich. — Michael “Mike” Brook Sanders, of White Pine, passed away suddenly on July 9, 2015, in Iron Mountain.

Mike was born in Framingham, Mass., to Neil and Catherine (Maloney) Sanders. He graduated from Abington Senior High School, located outside of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1966. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a Chinese linguist. His duty stations included Okinawa and Udorn, Thailand. He was honorably discharged in 1970. After he was discharged, Mike moved to Tucson, Ariz., to attend the University of Arizona on the G.I. Bill. In 1972, he married Joan Olivia Higven, who would become the mother of his two children. He graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. After graduation, he worked as an analytical chemist for several mining assay labs around Tucson. In 1987, he began working as the Chief Chemist at White Pine Copper Range in White Pine. He worked in that position until the mine closed in 1995. He continued as Chief Chemist with the White Pine Copper Refinery until the refinery closed in 2010. Afterward, he worked at the central lab for Freeport-McMoRan in Safford, Ariz., from 2011 until his retirement in 2014 as Principal Chemist.

Mike was an active member in the community, having been a member of the White Pine Lions Club, White Pine Volunteer Fire Department, and the White Pine School Board. He also loved flying, having earned his private pilot’s license and purchased his own airplane. In 2005, he married Merry Christian. After retirement, he split his time between his home in White Pine and Gladstone.

Mike is survived by his wife, Merry; his daughter, Olivia Monica (Michael) Herman, Oro Valley, Ariz .; and son, Neil (Kerrie) Sanders, Denton, Texas; stepsons, Dennis Berg, (Muskegon) and Jesse Christian (Escanaba); grandchildren, Noah, Linus, and Seneca Herman, Oro Valley, and Justice Castaneda (Muskegon); brother, Dr. Tim (Jane) Sanders, Carmel, Calif .; sister, Margot (Peter) Eddy, Bainbridge Island, Wash .; nieces, Kirsten (Kevin) Hayes, Mountain View, Calif., Jenny (Ron) Bolsky, Oxnard, Calif., Sandra Strieby, Twisp, Wash., and Libby (Jeremy) Rowe, Lochbuie, Colo .; along with nephews Phillip (Beverly) Sanders, Fremont, Calif., and Kendall Eddy, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol Greentree; and nephew, Martin Strieby.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at the White Pine Community United Methodist Church in White Pine. Visitation will be Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. with the service at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow.

The Anderson Funeral Homes of Escanaba and Gladstone are assisting the family and online condolences may be directed to the family at andersonfuneralhomes.net.