Michael G. Tarnawski

Michael Gale Tarnawski, aged eighty, died the afternoon of January 27, 2024, of natural causes as family members comforted him while at Morton Plan North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey, Florida at the time of his passing.

Born November 11, 1943, to Mildred Beccue and Michael Tarnawski in Moose Lake, Minnesota, Mickey’s favorite activities were hunting and fishing with his Dad on the weekends. He also could be found with his best friend Roger as a band roadie for a local rock & roll band, Johnny and the Galaxies until he went on a blind date and met Anna, the love of his life.

Michael then answered the call and volunteered to serve his country during the Vietnam War for two tours aboard the USS Yorktown, The Fighting Lady, as part of the Black Knights Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron. While he was traveling the world on his first tour, he sent a proposal over Western Union for Anna to meet him in Carmel, California to get married. She said yes, then journeyed west and they were hitched on May 29 th , Memorial Day. They planned that day so they would always have the day off to celebrate their anniversary together and they celebrated over fifty of them.

After discharge from active duty, Michael was awarded an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and became a member of the naval reserve. The couple moved back to Minnesota and enjoyed starting out their marriage playing in a bowling league, cheering on the North Stars at hockey games, and cruising down the Mississippi on their yacht, the Loveknot V, with Snoopy, their Irish Setter.

With their first of four on the way they gave up the yacht life and the snow for sunny Florida. Because of Michael’s love of boating, he would ‘lay a course’ into owning and operating Captain’s Cove Marina and Genesis Marketing & Yacht Sales in Hudson, Florida. 

Michael and Anna raised their four children in New Port Richey, Florida. If Anna was taking someone to dance class or flag corps practice, Michael was running another one to football, or coaching one in baseball or softball. If not at one of the many practices, Michael was loading horses into the trailer and the kids into the van for competitions in 4-H Horse Shows.

Michael enjoyed boating with his kids, grandkids and the dogs on their cabin cruiser, the Sea Mech, cheering on his grandkids at soccer games, baseball games, volleyball, martial arts, and MMA. Michael had an enthusiastic love of sports and when not occupied with being a sports fan he would be cuddled up with his dogs or cats watching old war movies or whatever was on the Hallmark channel. 

Michael was preceded in death by his brother Joseph Simertz and his dear wife and true love, Anna. Michael is survived by his sister Mary Lee Olson; four loving children, daughters Karen (husband Adam Wildfong), Michelle (husband Errol Cummings), Sara (husband Travis Martin), and devoted son Michael John; seven grandchildren Richard (fiancée Caitlin), Robert, and Riley Wildfong, Tyler and Tanner Martin, Luna and Flynn Cummings; nieces and nephews; and close friends.