Michael "Mike" Fitch

Michael “Mike” Fitch, 81, of Kankakee, passed away Monday June 16th, at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, following a sudden illness. He was born on April 29, 1944, in Roodhouse, Illinois, to the Rev. Ralph and Gladys Fitch. He moved to Kankakee in 1959 when his father was transferred as a pastor to Trinity United Methodist Church. He met his beloved wife Linda, at Trinity, and they went on to become high school sweethearts. They were wed on April 22, 1967, in Kankakee, and were married for 48 years, before she preceded him in death. Mike graduated from Kankakee High School in 1962 and then graduated from Devry Institute of Technology in 1965, where he was then hired on as a teacher of electronics and math. He and his wife lived in Chicago after their marriage, while she worked as a nurse, and he continued to teach at Devry. They moved back to Kankakee in 1970, as they started their family. He joined his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Clyde and Lee Call, in their family business, Clyde’s Camera ‘n’ Cards in 1970. After they retired in 1975, Mike and Lin and Lin’s sister and her husband became the new co-owners of Clyde’s in the Meadowview Shopping Center, where he continued to work actively, for the next decade. In 1984 he went to work as a design engineer for Parker Machine Corporation, in Frankfort. He made another major career move in 1994, when he began work at Phoenix Closures, in Naperville, as a mechanical/electrical engineer. He retired in 2010. Mike loved photography and not only did it all of his life as a hobby but also did weekly photo developing and photo restoration for Clyde’s Camera ‘n’ cards, and photographed weddings, for a period of time. He was an enthusiastic fisherman and hunter and loved camping with his family and friends. He was happily involved for many years with Kankakee Valley Theatre, and not only did set design and construction for many of their productions but also served as President of KVT from 1991- 1996. He was a lifelong member of Trinity United Methodist Church, and through the years supported the church as a choir member, Sunday school teacher and youth group leader, trustee, and building committee chairperson. He was a much loved friend, Dad and Papa. He is survived by his daughters Michelle (Scott) Kennedy of Elmhurst, and Lisa-Kate (Tony) Iovinelli, of Batavia, six grandchildren-Harrison, Owen, and Wyatt Kennedy and Parker, Sonia, and Mia Wilson, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Barb and Gordon Freitag, many nephews and nieces.. He was preceded in death by his three sisters and brothers-in-law, Muriel (Bill) Dawson, Enid (A.V.) Smith, and Anne (Lee) Bedford. A Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Kankakee, on Saturday July 19th with visitation beginning at 9:30, and the service beginning at 11:00. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Schreffler funeral homes in Kankakee. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church.

Michael "Mike" Fitch

April 29, 1944 - June 16, 2025

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Michael "Mike" Fitch

April 29, 1944 - June 16, 2025

365 Days of Grief Support

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About Us

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Grief & Healing

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