Michael Ernest Likvan, a Niles resident, passed away March 11. Mike was born Oct. 1, 1926, in Crabtree, Pennsylvania, to his parents John and Anna (nee Pavlik).
Mike lost his father at the age of 7 and lived with his mother and two older sisters, Ann (Dramel) and Helen (DiOrio) in Crabtree. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II as a machinist mate and spent two years on the repair ship, USS Xanthus, traveling through South America and Asia.
After leaving the service, Mike worked in Chicago where he met his soon-to-be wife, Mary Ann Balogh. They were married May 21, 1949, and moved to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where, as an accomplished carpenter, Mike hand built the family home and welcomed their six children. In 1965, they moved the family to Niles where they have lived for the past 51 years. Mike and Mary Ann were married for almost 67 years, and recently when asked for the key to a long marriage, Mike said, “I love her and she loves me,” followed by a wink to his bride. Upon arriving to Niles and the St. John Brebeuf parish, Mike helped found the St. Vincent DePaul Society at the church and was also involved in the Holy Name Society and the church choir.
Mike was a devout and faithful Catholic, attending services every day that he was able. His love of God and the church was instrumental in his life. He didn’t like to wear his belief on his sleeve but instead demonstrated God’s love through his charitable examples and endless good works.
Mike attended the Illinois Institute of Technology; was a licensed architect; and worked for firms including OWP&P, one of the largest in the city. Architecture allowed him to pursue his passion for drawing and every blueprint was highly-detailed and completely hand-drawn. Mike enjoyed
woodworking and creating hand-carved gifts for family and friends; and his passion for photography is evident in the decades of family memories he documented in a vast collection of slides and photos.
Mike was a loving and devoted father to his six children, Michele Silva (Carl) of Livermore, California, Kathleen Likvan (Fred Downing) of Missoula, Montana, Marlene Melesko (Vincent) of East Lyme, Connecticut, Michael J. (Jacqui) Likvan of Arlington Heights, Mary Lentzen (Robert) of Naples, Florida, and Margaret Rainone (Robert) of Chicago; a kind and generous grandfather to his three grandchildren, Danielle Swanson (Scott), Alex Melesko, and Nicholas Melesko (fiancée, Samantha Gagnon); and a doting great-grandfather to Anna Swanson. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters.
Visitation was March 18, 2016 from 3 – 8 p.m. at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Funeral was March 19 at 9:15 a.m. at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home to 10 a.m. Mass at St. John Brebeuf Church, 8307 N. Harlem Ave., Niles. Entombment following at All Saints Mausoleum, 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Carmelite Monastery, 949 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL, 60016.
