Mike McCall was born Sept. 27, 1935, on the family farm near what is now 72nd and North Brighton, he died Aug. 5, 2025, at North Kansas City Hospital.

Mike grew up in and around Avondale, Mo., with his parents Elmer “Grubs” McCall and Lorraine McCall, his brothers and sisters, Patricia, Roberta, Nancy, Cuppy (Eleanor), Sonny (Donald), Elmer, and Terry, and many school friends he kept for life. His infant brother Robert died in 1931, his 3-year-old brother Shannon died in 1954.

He was a loyal alum of North Kansas City High School (Hornets, class of ‘53), University of Missouri (Tigers, ‘57), and University of Michigan (Wolverines, ‘65) and a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.

After getting his undergraduate degree, he served as a flight navigator in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged and taught World History at North Kansas City High School. On completing his Master’s Degree, he was a high school counselor at Troy High School in Troy, Mich., a poverty program counselor with Northern Systems, a substitute teacher, a UPS driver all in Detroit, Mich.

In 1970, he returned to school counseling and Kansas City, joining Hickman Mills Consolidated School District #1. He worked at Baptiste Junior High, Ruskin High School, and Hickman Mills High School, before retiring in 1999. During summers, he roofed houses with his brothers and brother-in-law Pete Ragusa.

In the spring, he enjoyed hunting for morel mushrooms. He did not enjoy the ticks. The rest of the year, he ‘hunted’ for treasures at garage and estate sales.

Mike is survived by the love of his life, Janice, they were together for 68 years and married for 67, daughter Kelley (John), daughter Shawn and grandson, Joey, brothers Elmer, “Sonny, ” and Terry, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family invites friends to Mike’s Celebration of Life from 1 - 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, “on the Hill” at 3530 N. Myrtle, Kansas City, Mo., starting with a short service and military honors. Light snacks and the MU-KU game broadcast will be available