Michael Hoyle

Michael Hoyle was one of a kind. Outspoken, loving, and intense, he had a profound sense of conviction in every aspect of his life. He was always up for a debate, would greet you with a crushing hug, and his smile and laugh were second to none. Michael cared deeply for his family, serving as a devoted son to his parents, loving brother to his seven siblings, and amazing uncle to his many nieces and nephews, and he will be forever missed.

It was April 2nd, 1961, when Hugh and Dottie Hoyle were pleased to announce the birth of the baby boy they named Michael Gerard in Woodstock, Illinois. He was the fourth of eight children in the Hoyle family, preceded by his older siblings Joe, Mary, and Tim, and later joined by his younger siblings Barb, Andy, Danny, and Cat. Michael was raised in Gurnee, Illinois in his youngest years in a three-bedroom home in Grandwood park. While times weren’t always easy, with money being tight, there was something simple and magical about that time. The backyard substituted as a baseball field and with his sister Barb, only 14 months his junior, and Andy 14 months behind her, the three grew up thick as thieves. They had lots of fun together, despite nearly setting the garage on fire with matches.

Michael and his family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1971 for his father’s job. Michael, like the rest of his family, enjoyed their new home. While school was not Mike’s strong suit, he found his place by joining the junior high school cross country team. Mike loved running and when he joined the Kalamazoo Central cross-country and track teams, he met his lifelong best friend, Dave Smith “Smitty”. They were so dedicated that in winter, they shoveled the third and fourth lanes of the track to get some runs in and in summer they attended cross-country camp. Mike’s passion for running led to his joy of coaching. Mike coached the Hillside Junior High School girl’s cross-country team and he also helped Coach Long with the Kalamazoo Central long-distance and pole vaulter track teams. He often reminisced about those days and continued to give advice on running, including to his niece Celia, as she joined the cross-country team last fall.

Michael began working at a young age with a paper route in junior high school and later working at Mr. Steak. After graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School, he started working at UPS loading packages. He spent many of his working years in asphalt maintenance with his brother Joe at Hoyle & Meyer Asphalt. He was also a mechanic and often worked on cars as part of his job or in his spare time. Later in life, Michael worked with his friend Pete at Keystone, a community drop-in center in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood. At Keystone, Mike was able to help many people in the community who were impacted by poverty, incarceration and adult mental illness. He was passionate about serving members of the Kalamazoo community. This extended beyond Keystone. Mike was truly a man of service wherever he went.

When Michael was 20, he was diagnosed with a severe form of bipolar disorder, a challenge he faced with courage throughout his life. His illness took many things from him - a conventional career, a cabin up north, and the opportunity to have children of his own. Yet, despite these struggles, Michael remained a constant source of support for his family. He was the “go-to” babysitter, always the first to offer help, whether it was lending money, moving days and car maintenance for Mary and Sasha, or buying the keg at family reunions. He was able to help raise his two stepchildren, Katie and Michael B alongside his wife Gwen. Many people with Mike’s condition might have felt anger toward the world, and while he sometimes wrestled with these emotions, he never allowed them to overshadow his love for life. He was deeply grateful for his family, his friends, and the many times he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles… “Nine lives, baby, nine lives!”

For over 20 years, Michael lived with his parents as a dedicated caregiver, especially in the past decade. He cleaned the house, did the grocery shopping and cooking, and provided personal care for both his mother and father. He often said he felt like the "luckiest guy in the world" to care for his mom. His siblings are forever grateful because they know that their parents could not have remained in their home until their passings without Mike’s support.

Michael was the pied piper of animals and children. Every dog and cat in the world migrated to Mike. His childhood dog, Colonel, never left his side, often joining him under a sheet over the only heating vent on the second floor during the cold Michigan winters. In recent years, he absolutely adored going on long walks with his devoted dog Rusty and playing with his crazy cat Chase. Mike’s love of animals was expansive, and he was always the “go-to” dog sitter for family and friends. He would graciously take over during many of the family dogs' last days, as he did so unselfishly with Rocky, Delton, and Sedona.

Probably his greatest pride and joy were the kids in his life. Mike was an adored uncle who was always authentic, never sugar-coating things like most adults do. He shared his love of movies with them, regardless of their parents’ concerns about age appropriateness. Mike was affectionate, and that affection would sometimes break into lighthearted roughhousing, ensuring kids knew their place in the hierarchy. Above all, the kids were deeply loved and cared for, each developing a special and unique bond with their “Uncle Mike.”

Michael had many interests. He was a movie enthusiast, often quoting lines and rarely stumped by any. Some of his favorites included, “I lost my langostino,” “Man, the Doobie Brothers broke up,” and “Cause who could be afraid of a Jeffrey?” He loved a good meal, was a talented cook, and his mashed potatoes were unmatched. Under Mike's very intricate guidance in the 1330 kitchen, Stefon was passed the coveted potato masher as Mike's heir apparent for holiday mashed potato duty. He enjoyed traveling to places like Ireland and Utah, as well as Georgia to spend time with Smitty. Michael was a NASCAR fan, attending MIS for several years. When snow skiing, he could be seen in true Mike style: with sunglasses, jeans, and no helmet.

Although Michael was raised in a Catholic home, he left the church as a young adult. After his mother’s passing last year, Michael decided to return to the church. With the help of Father Bob Creagan of St. Augustine’s, who had been visiting the Hoyle home almost every Thursday for the past three years, Mike began to reconnect with his faith. Though this decision came as a surprise to many, those who knew Mike were glad he had found some peace in his life.

Those who had the privilege of knowing Mike would agree that he left a lasting impression on their lives. Passionate, loud, loving, and generous, he was a loyal friend, a devoted son, brother, and phenomenal uncle. His memory will be cherished by many, and his legacy of love and service will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Michael Gerard Hoyle, of Kalamazoo, died unexpectedly at home on April 12, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Mary. Surviving are his siblings: Joe (Peggy) Hoyle, Tim (Kathy) Hoyle, Barb (Mark) Novak, Andy (Donna) Hoyle, Danny (Andria) Hoyle, Cat Palin; Anthony Palin; nieces and nephews: Sasha, Erin (Rob), Chris (MaryBeth), Kara, Melissa, Jeff, Tyler, Ryan, Michael (Allison), Matthew, Troy, Hugh, Celia, Will; great nieces and nephews: Alex, Jackson, Stefon, Felix, Jacob, Kayla, Anna, Alyssa, Austin, Valerie, a baby boy on the way; and many cousins and dear friends.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation on Friday, June 6, from 5-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. Mass will be celebrated Saturday, June 7, at 10 AM at St. Augustine Cathedral. Burial at Mountain Home Cemetery.

Celebrate Michael’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Humane Society.