Michael David Hazelwood was born on January 10, 1974 in Indianapolis, IN to David and Sherry (Michael) Hazelwood at home in the middle of an ice storm. Not long after his arrival, the family moved to Grafton, WI. While attending school in the Grafton School District, Mike was involved in athletics. He played football for the Grafton Gladiators with his dad as one of his coaches and went on to play for the Grafton Black Hawks. After football season ended, he was a wrestler for several years. Outside of athletics, Mike always had a love of music. He learned to play the drums and kept everyone in the house entertained with endless versions of “Wipe Out”. Mike later formed a band with friends, set up a rehearsal studio in his basement, and played music that made them happy.
After graduating from Grafton High School in 1992, Mike enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, 121st Field Artillery Unit. He was trained as a Certified Instructor in Field Artillery, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 2000. He took what he learned in the military and continued to be involved in Sport and Target Shooting throughout his life.
Mike began his postsecondary education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and later attended Cardinal Stritch College and Kaplan University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business. As the use of computers and technology increased, Mike found his path. Mike started his IT career at Restat in West Bend, WI. He navigated for over 20 years in the IT department of several Eversana legacy companies. At the time of his passing he was an IT Architect with Eversana. When asked about computer problems, his best advice to his family was, “Check to see if it is plugged in first”.
While his daily life focused on computers, the love of his life was his wife, Joanna Duncan Hazelwood, whom he met at work when her computer kept coming “unplugged”. They got married on September 10th, 2011. To this union, a daughter, Vivian Leigh, was born in 2015. Michael absolutely loved being a dad and this dear child brought him endless joy.
Sharing what he loved, with those he loved, was a wonderful quality of Michael. He wanted to share his love of motorcycles with Vivian just as his dad had done with him. Mike and his father, David, bought Harley Davidson’s several years ago so they could ride together. Spending time with his family was at the center of Mike’s life and he enjoyed playing at the park and eating ice cream with Vivian, building a greenhouse and garden with Joanna and camping all together. Mike loved being an uncle to his nephews Gage, Elijah, and Nolan Cornell and Christopher Duncan, Duane Fuller, Zachary Fuller, and his niece Alisha Duncan. They shared an interest in sports, video games, marching bands, the military, sport shooting and movies. His favorite line to say when things didn’t go right was from Calamity Jane, “I’ll bet her mother spun ‘em!”
Mike was a member of the Christian Science Church in Cedarburg, WI. He served on many committees and is currently on the board.
Michael passed away unexpectedly on October 21st, 2022, with his family present. He is survived by his wife Joanna, daughter Vivian, mother Sherry, sister Keeley (Hazelwood) Cornell, brother-in-law Thadd Cornell, sister-in-law’s Wendy Fuller, Gretchen Duncan-Abraham, and Katie Duncan, 6 nephews and 1 niece, several cousins, and numerous friends and co-workers. He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, his father David Hazelwood, and his sister Krista Hazelwood.
There are not really words to express how deeply loved Michael was by all who knew him. His humor, his kindness, his ability to listen, his gentleness, his insightfulness, and his wonderful sense of being made Mike who he was. And we are so grateful he was part of our lives. Michael David’s life was a life well lived and he will be cherished by all who knew him. Forever.
Visitation will be on Saturday, November 5, 2022, from 12:00-2:00 at the Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home at 10280 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon, WI 53092. A brief Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at the funeral home beginning at 2:00 p.m.
