Michael J. Harp

Surrounded by his loving family and fighting to live to the fullest to the very end, Michael J. Harp, 61, Combined Locks, took his last breath on Thursday, December 1, 2016, at Appleton Medical Center. Multiple System Atrophy took him from us physically but his spirit remains in all those who knew and loved him, and there were many. He was seldom alone, he encircled himself with family and friends thanks to his outgoing personality and many interests. When his disease began to progress in earnest earlier this year, more than 1,000 people supported Mike and Lynn and their family at a benefit in their honor, engineered by the best friends anyone could ever ask for. He was in his glory that day, and ended the night with “the last dance” with Lynn, the woman he publicly declared “my love, my rock, my life and my wife.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as they swayed to the music. These friends and family members carried them through the next 6 months, helping fulfill many Bucket List items, from excursions Up North with the Amigos for fishing to an adventurous motor coach tour with Lynn. Life did not end with a diagnosis, it simply gained urgency. Mike was proud of his company, Harp Home Improvements, and you can see his work on many homes and cottages throughout the area. He followed in his Dad’s footsteps with a love of the outdoors, and could give most anyone a run for their money at the dart board, the pool table or in a game of cribbage. But more than anything, he loved his family. Mike is survived by Lynn, his wife of 35 years, who never left his side when the going got tough; his children: Angela (Brandon) Raddant, Ben Harp, and Sam (Jennifer Hoelzel) Harp; his grandchildren: Spencer, Tyler, Grayson, Naomi, and Nora; siblings: Mary (Jeff) Harp-Jirschele, Marcy (Todd) Voss, Maureen (Ronnie) Williams, Marty (Karen) Harp, Matt (Ellen) Harp, and Mark Harp; father and mother-in-law, Roger and Barbara Smith; brothers and sisters-in-law: Brenda (Michael) Schumacher, Darrel (Deb) Smith, Dave (Donna) Smith, and Dale “Skip” (Deb) Smith; nieces and nephews: Matt McCarty; Jason Bogenschutz; Alex, Annabelle and Margaret Harp; Garret Harp; Nicole, Matt, Kate, and Luke Schumacher; Coy, Cas, and Cal Smith; Alex and Autumn Smith; Jake, Hannah, Maggie, and Sarah Smith; many other family members and very special friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Barb and Jim Harp; sister, Margaret; niece, Sarah Bogenschutz; sister-in-law, Shellie Smith; all of his grandparents and a number of dear aunts and uncles.

Memorial services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 705 E. Greenfield Drive, Little Chute, with Rev. Ronald Szep officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

The Harp family would like to express a special thank you to the Appleton Medical Center ER staff, the 7th and 8th floor, Dr. Norma Turk and Dr. David Anderla for all of the compassionate care given to Mike. 

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