Michael James Forbes took his final journey on April 8, 2025. Mike was born on March 23, 1950 to Fay and Virgilene Forbes in Lake, Michigan. He attended school in Barryton, Michigan and graduated in 1968 as a member of the first graduating class of Chippewa Hills High School. During high school, he played basketball, football, and was drum major of the marching band. During his younger years, he loved horses and motorcycles, as well as hunting and fishing. He continued his love of hunting and fishing, as well as woodcarving during his later years.

When Mike graduated from high school, he entered Central Michigan University and achieved his Bachelors of Education degree. But teaching wasn't his first dream….he wanted to be a police officer! When Mike graduated from CMU in 1972, teaching jobs were in short demand so he went to work building homes for a brief time until the possibility of attending the Michigan State Police Academy became a reality. Mike graduated from the MSP Academy and spent the next 25 years serving at the posts in Livingston, Manistee, Bad Axe, Ithaca, Cadillac and retiring from the Mt. Pleasant post in 1998. During his time in the MSP, he was a trooper, D.A.R.E officer, and retired as a Sergeant. After retirement, he worked for the MOISD as a truancy officer, facilitated Alternatives to Violence, a program for individuals with domestic violence history and also served on the Barryton Area Mobile Food Pantry Board.

Mike also had another part to his life! In 1970, he married Pam Hatfield after they met as students of the first Chippewa Hills graduating class. Together they moved around the state (Pam was adamant the Upper Peninsula was not going to be one of the posts Mike was assigned to!) and raised two fantastic children: Jessica (Jeff) Johnston and Adam (Terri Eudy) Forbes. Those two fantastic children went on to each raise two fantastic children of their own: Emma (Ben) Wenger, Zoey Johnston, twins Addy and Jaime Forbes. Mike and Pam loved to travel and visited Jamaica, Hawaii, Mexico, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Florida, North Carolina and a few states in between.

Many family members have passed before Mike including his parents, his brother LaVern Forbes, his brothers in law Jim Leiter and Larry Hatfield, and in laws, Don and Edna Hatfield. Many are still here continuing his legacy including his wife, Pam, children Jessica and Adam, sister Janet Leiter, Pam's siblings Sherry, Janis, Dennis and Jeff, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Mike's family will be having a celebration of his life at a later date.

Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Daggett Gilbert Funeral Homes of Big Rapids.

To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit www.daggettfuneral.com