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Dianna Lee Callen lit a candle
Sunday, April 21, 2024
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Mike and I are cousins, we grew up together as siblings.
My brother, and sister. Right along side Don and Debbie, Mike's younger siblings.
My best childhood memories are in Sunmine, with my cousins.
I am not sure our parents knew the bond they were creating, back in the days and evenings and all those glories weekends we all spent together.
Our parents played guitars and banjos, sang. They made the best memories for the six of us kids.
Mike's uncle Don was part of that family time as well.
He was the banjo player.
He also was the banana split marker back then too.
I have held on to those glories days and evenings and weekends. To this day.
I also have the memory of the news when our parents broke the news that our family was going to be separated by my uncle's health issues.
That they were moving to Tucson Arizona.
It seemed like our lives changed completely that day.
And indeed they did.
We all were there to say our goodbyes, that morning they left.
In my minds eye I can still see their car fading away as they drove away.
My life and my siblings were never the same.
Sure we had phone calls and letters. But not the same as listening to our parents play music and sing.
My love for Mike and Don & Debbie never changed.
I don't believe it ever will.
I am beyond heartbroken over Mike's passing.
I am still planning a trip to see Don and his family and Debbie and hers.
Hopefully able to meet Gina as well.
I am retiring in a year.
I hope to make plans to go see you all.
All my love now and always.
Cousin Dian
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Gina Callen Posted Apr 21, 2024 at 1:11 PM
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Gina Callen posted a symbolic gesture
Saturday, April 20, 2024
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Mikes good friend Jim Lesseski wrote this for him and I wanted to share it here.
FOND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF MIKE
I think Mike was around 11 years old when he and his family moved to Arizona.
Mike was a year older than me. We had 10 years of the best childhood friendship a kid could ask for. Those years together have given me many pleasant memories.
It seemed like we were always together. We often played in a pile of dirt with Tonka trucks or were riding, first tricycles, then graduating to bicycles. (Mike helped me learn to ride a two-wheel bike.)
There was a plot of land in our town that the owner had dug out a hole for a foundation, but never built the house. We spent hours playing in the hole and on the mountains of dirt piled up next to it. Don may remember it as “Pauline’s Field”. There were times, when playing Army, the hole was a created by an enemy mortar shell. Mike and I would use it for cover while defeating the enemy. Other times it was a canyon that Godzilla cornered us in. We always managed to defeat him too. Or a moon crater where we fought off Martians. We just let our imaginations run wild.
We were Cub Scouts together, his Mom being our Den Mother. He was a year ahead of me in Scouts and I had always looked up to him as a senior scout.
We would spend what seemed like hours climbing in the apple trees in the little coal mining town that we lived in. We would climb as high as we could and sit and talk and eat green apples.
When it was Goose Berry, Rhubarb or Blackberry season, we could be found hiding in the bushes eating the berries. We would take turns sneaking sugar from his house or mine to dip the sour Rhubarb in.
Often, our parents would get together on Saturday evenings and play cards. Mike, Don, my sister, and me, (Deb was pretty young at the time, I don’t recollect where she was). While our parents were playing cards, we would be laying on the living room floor watching a Pittsburgh late show called “Chiller Theater”. It aired movies such as Godzilla, King Kong, Frankenstein, Werewolf, ect…. Fond memories being made.
In a coal mining town, there would be a group of houses, owned by the coal mine. It was often referred to as a Patch of Houses. Shortened to just “The Patch.” When the coal mine closed, the houses were sold to the public. Mike’s family lived in one of the houses in the Patch. My family lived in a house across the road from the Patch.
Before Mike and I learned to whistle, Mike came up with a sound to imitate the tune of a whistle used to get some one’s attention. It can not be put into spelling, but it was something like “erRRA ETT!” Mike would see me across the road in my yard, and from his porch he would let out an “erRRA ETT!” to get my attention. I would look where the sound was coming from and see him motioning for me to come over. I would reply with a returned “erRRA ETT!” and run over to his place, where we would find something to do. Tonka trucks, play Army, whatever. We were good kids and never looked to get into mischief. (Then again, both his parents and mine believed in discipline, so we did not chance doing anything to receive some of it.)
These are just some my cherished childhood memories of Mike. I share them so that you may have images of his childhood.
I still live in the old coal mining town. Over the years, I often look over to where Mike’s family used to live and, in my mind, I can still hear him and see him motioning for me.
In the almost 60 years that we were separated by miles, we never lost our childhood bond. We may have only gotten together maybe 10 times or so in those 60 years, but when we did, it was like we were never separated. We could always pick up where we left off.
As per Gina’s prompting, I telephoned Mike a few days before he went in for his surgery. We talked and reminisced some of our childhood memories. I am so thankful that I called him.
I recently retired and I told Gina back in February that on my bucket list was to come to Arizona and see the Grand Canyon and then go visit her and Mike. (With a heavy, saddened sigh I write that, now knowing that God had other plans.)
We never know what tomorrow may bring. I am thinking of the song that The Byrds performed, “Turn Turn Turn” as I write just some of my memories of Mike.
Thank you for allowing me to share my memories of my lifelong friend, Mike. I, like all of you, love him and am going to miss him.
May our grieving hearts be comforted with God’s promise of resurrection.
Lovingly,
Mike’s friend, Jim
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Jim Lesseski uploaded photo(s)
Friday, April 19, 2024
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Mike, in the brown and white striped shirt, at the bus stop with the Sun Mine kids.
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Jim Lesseski lit a candle
Friday, April 19, 2024
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Mike and I spent our boyhood together in Sun Mine. He was the best friend that I ever had.
My wife and I extend our sincerest sympathies to Gina, Don, Deb and all of his family.
I will miss you my friend.
Jim and Rhonda Lesseski
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Oasis Cremation uploaded photo(s)
Friday, April 19, 2024
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The family of Michael Lee Callen uploaded a photo
Friday, April 19, 2024
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Oasis Cremation uploaded photo(s)
Friday, April 19, 2024
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Michael Callen
Thursday, April 18, 2024
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Oasis Cremation and Funeral Care Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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The family of Michael Lee Callen uploaded a photo
Thursday, April 18, 2024
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