Michael Schuler

Michael "Mick" Schuler was a thoughtful, caring and devoted father, who cherished every moment he was able to spend with his daughters and granddaughters. Although he was painfully shy as a child, Mick's exuberant personality and unique voice soon landed him a career in entertainment that won him many accolades. Despite his career honors, however, Mick was proudest of his accomplishments as a father.

1944 was a historically important year for people in the US and abroad. As Franklin Delano Roosevelt began his second term of presidency, the Battle of the Bulge began as Germans penetrated the Allied front in Belgium. While the war continued to be waged abroad, for Walter “Skinny” & Julia (Dulworth) Schuler of Jackson, Michigan, life was much simpler. On May 30, 1944 the couple welcomed their second child Michael into their home that already included a son Tom. It was not long before a little girl Sharlie would complete the family.

Growing up, Mick's dad supported the family by working for the railroad. As a child, Mick and his family moved from Jackson to Niles to Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Because of the frequent moves, he developed an extremely close relationship with his mother. As a child, Mick was very shy and he did not become social until he was much older. When he was young boy his uncle took him to the Jackson Speedway. From that day on racing became a passion that would grow throughout the rest of his life. Although Mick was still timid about making new friends, he talked frequently to his family about his dreams of hopping a train as a teenager and riding to Detroit to see the Tigers play ball. A true sports fanatic, he played baseball for Kalamazoo Central High School up until his graduation in 1962. Following his graduation, Mick made the fateful trip to Detroit where he actually tried-out for the major leagues. Although he was a great player, Mick was not destined to be a Tiger and he returned to Kalamazoo to start a life for himself. As a young man one of Mick's hangouts was the Lyons Drug store. One day at the drugstore, he noticed a cute girl named Jan working behind the counter. After a couple of tries, Mick was finally able to talk Jan into a date and the lovebirds eventually married on December 21, 1968. Following the wedding the couple welcomed a daughter Julie into their lives on August 8, 1969, and a second daughter Kelley followed on January 14, 1973.

In 1969 Mick's passion for race cars led him to a job at the Kalamazoo Speedway and by 1970 he was in full swing as a track announcer. Because of his dedication to the job, Mick soon became the general manager of the Speedway and he continued to work there until the early 80s. Although Mick's career was taking off, by 1976 he and Jan had grown apart and decided to divorce. It was not long, however, before Mick caught the eye of another cute girl and on June 19, 1977 he and Linda South were wed after being introduced by two friends at Fid's bar, which is now known as The Roadhouse. Following his marriage to Linda, Mick began working for WBUK in 1978 where he continued to work until 1982 as the sports director. A talented announcer, he enjoyed this job for many reasons, but especially because it introduced him to hockey, which he grew to love. In the 1970’s Mick also spent a lot of time following the WMU men’s basketball team when Eldon Miller coached them. Though Mick loved being the sports director for WBUK he always wanted the announcing position for the WMU men's basketball team, and was envious of his acquaintance Max Doolittle who held the position. Because of his perseverance, Mick did eventually become the announcer for the women’s basketball team and the hockey team, at WMU, which he loved.

Although Mick enjoyed working at WBUK, it was apparent that his talent was beginning to lead him beyond Kalamazoo and in 1982 he moved to Altus, Oklahoma where he served as the general manager of a speedway for one year; soon a better offer came along and Mick moved to San Antonio for a year before returning to Altus where he became the manager for a brand new speedway that was the competitor of the first speedway he worked for there. In 1984 Mick's heart led him back to Kalamazoo where he became close friends with Marty Jones the owner of Kalamazoo Speedway, until 1996 Mick and Marty worked hand in hand to promote the racetrack. A natural spokesman, Mick was in charge of the major advertising campaigns for the racetrack and due to his exuberant personality he was instrumental in getting 8 NASCAR drivers to visit the track for a day in the late 1980s. Even if Mick could only get one driver to visit, Mick would promote the event like it was a national headline and people would be sure to come. Though Mick was enjoying his life and his family, in 1991 he faced a second divorce from his wife Linda. Following the divorce, Mick continued to spend many years as a columnist for the Marc Times Racing News in which he authored a column entitled "The Wide Angle". In his article he would write about recent races he had attended or announced for, helping him to continue to fuel his love for racing.

Although Mick made his career out of announcing, it was apparent that his most important job in life was taking care of his children and grandchildren. Mick always maintained that he was happiest when he was around his girls: Julie, Kelley, Casie, Brianna, and Karley. When the girls were young he would go out of his way to introduce them to all the celebrity racers he met, and though he was busy with work he was always active in their lives and supported them at all of their events. A protective father, Kelley remembers one time when he took her to see the K-Wings hockey team that he loved dearly. At the time, he was a member of the K-Wings booster club and during one game eight-year old Kelley got scared by a violent team member from the Muskegon team. Mick did not want his daughter's memory of the game to be tarnished and he insisted that the player apologize to Kelley in front of everyone. Because he was known as a very rough player, no one expected him to follow through, but he did, and Mick continued to take his girls to hockey games.

When he wasn't with his girls, Mick loved to entertain. Once he outgrew being a shy child he found that life had a humorous side, and he enjoyed using his fun-loving spirit to entertain others. Mick enjoyed karaoke and he especially loved singing “King of the Road” by Roger Miller. With an ear for country music Mick loved attending concerts, Johnny Cash and Marty Robins were among his favorite singers. He was a huge fan of Elvis and would often imitate him. His favorite food was even peanut butter (with milk on ice) just like the King

After a life filled with love and happiness, Michael “Mick” Schuler died June 19, 2004. Friends and family may visit and remember Mick's life on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Speedway where funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 am. Mick was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Opal Schuler and his brother Tom Schuler. Members of Mick’s family include his daughters and their husbands, Julie & Brian Town of Plainwell, Kelley & Tim Crawford of Portage, his granddaughters Casie Rayman, Brianna Town and Karley Crawford, his sister Sharlie Mello of VA, his sister-in-law Judy Schuler of North Muskegon, his nephews Foley & Toby Schuler and his niece Kathy Mello. Please visit Mick’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make a memorial donation to the American Diabetes Association, your local hospice organization or to his family. Arrangements were made by Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren Life Story Funeral Homes.

Having lived an eventful life, Mick was most happy when he was with "his girls" who meant the world to him. Despite all that he accomplished in his life, he maintained that his proudest day was in November of 2000 when he was inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame for his many years of dedication to the sport of auto racing.