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MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:04 pm
by 1994se
Hey all, haven't been on here in awhile but thought i would share this in case any of you knew him. I found this link on Facebook from another local car guy.
http://www.nwherald.com/2011/10/01/afte ... e/air1zuk/
After war, soldier’s final fight ends at home
By CHELSEA McDOUGALL -
cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
Created: Sunday, October 2, 2011 5:30 a.m. CDT
CRYSTAL LAKE – Army Spc. Michael Vukovich had just finished fighting one war when he began the fight for his life.
One day after returning from a tour in Afghanistan, Vukovich, a Lake in the Hills native, was raced to the emergency room with severe chest pains. A few weeks later he would be diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that eventually would take his life.
He passed away Friday in Chicago. He was 22 and a newlywed.
“You go and fight one war ... and you come home and have to fight another war and fight for your life all over again,” his wife, Alie Vukovich, said. “He didn’t get a break.”
Alie, 21, and Michael met more than two years ago at a local health club. Michael left for Army basic training 30 days later. Set up by mutual friends, the two dated long distance before becoming engaged on Christmas Eve in 2009.
“It’s hard to lose your other half,” Alie said, as her voice cracked through held-back tears. “To know that he’s gone forever is hard to wrap your mind around. We just completed each other so well. To know that that was ripped from me is hard.”
They planned to get married in August but pushed up the date and were married at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on May 26, just before Michael went into surgery.
“Literally 10 minutes after we got married he was whisked off to his surgery,” Alie said. “We waited long enough; we just wanted to be married.”
Michael joined the military in 2009. He did his basic training and was stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y., before being deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. He was a combat engineer. He returned in April.
Michael was home-schooled and finished his high school credits in 2005. Alie graduated from Crystal Lake South High School in 2008.
He is survived by a brother and sister, Matthew and Lauren Vukovich; his parents, Jon and Carrie Vukovich of Lake in the Hills; and other extended family.
His visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. in Crystal Lake. The funeral will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Christian Fellowship Church of Crystal Lake, 3419 Walk Up Road, Crystal Lake.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:21 pm
by olblueeyesbonne
Wow, sorry to hear this! I didn't know Mike personally, but had watched his work on the forums and he definitely had some useful input here.
Such a devastating way to go and I'm sure it's really a tough blow to his family and friends to lose him right when they were expecting a long and bright future with him.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:36 pm
by 00Beast
Oh my god. I never met him personally, just through the forums, and he seemed to be a great guy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone else affected.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:05 pm
by swampthing
Wow that's sad, was he the member that had one of the only e85 cars in the club? Or was that someone else
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:24 pm
by Gumball
Truly sad news, Rest In Peace Mike.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 4:08 pm
by dpnewfie
Wow! Rest In Peace, Mike. God speed.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:57 pm
by GoldenBullet
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:00 pm
by gonzo4191
he came to my first meet, also meet up with him during the cruise nights, he had big plans for his purple 03 ssei!
RIP mike!
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:34 am
by CMNTMXR57
That's a REALLY familiar last name. Did he have any other cars?
Sorry to hear this.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:32 pm
by 1994se
Not that i know of, he was from the Crystal Lake/Lake in the Hills area. I see you're from Elgin, he was friends with Wessel who has the GTP
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:18 pm
by CMNTMXR57
That name was REALLY familiar. I don't recall any GTP owners though. I was thinking F-Body.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:27 pm
by Jrs3800
RIP Mad Mike.......
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:21 pm
by wake
OMG..thats horrible..a severe loss...RIP Mike!
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:32 pm
by WhiteArrow3800
Wow, that's rough, reallly rough.
Sorry to hear this news, RIP...
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:10 am
by yonkerse
Didn't really know him, but recognize the screen name from searching around threads. Truly a loss to the club and his family. Has to be a tough way to go...very sad :(
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:28 am
by wake
i had a few talks with Mike about his car and maybe meeting up some day..and every Pm i ever got from him seemed to have thought and heart in it
Definatly a stand up respectable guy!
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:35 am
by 1994se
CMNTMXR57 wrote:That name was REALLY familiar. I don't recall any GTP owners though. I was thinking F-Body.
Not sure. I saw a video of his car racing a camaro a couple years ago but that's all.
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 12:30 pm
by SingsCountry1967
Thank you for letting us know... very sorry to hear this... survives a tour to be hit on the homefront... RIP Mike...
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:18 pm
by yonkerse
Are there any recent threads around (or anyone have) with recent pictures of his car. Don't think I recall seeing any pics of his bonnie....
Re: MadMike passed away
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:23 pm
by SSEiMan01
I also didn't know him personally but I do recognize the username...Also rings a bell from some F-body forum as well, I may be getting confused though. Sounds like he was a great guy. RIP Mike