Michael Lynn Horlacher's Obituary
On June 8th, 2025 after 81 years of being one of the most giving and hard-working hearts, Mike’s heart decided it was time to retire. Mike was born on December 5th, 1943, in Tooele, Utah. He was the 8th out of 10 children born to Harry Hearne Horlacher and Susan Eliza Christensen Horlacher. While he was still an infant, his parents moved to Pioche, Nevada. Mike was very proud of his hometown and had several good memories with his siblings there. Mike’s upbringing instilled in him a love and appreciation for small-town life. He saw the beauty of small towns like Ibapah, Pioche, Ely, and Panaca.
After graduating from High School, Michael served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years in Scotland. Mike joined the Army in 1966. Another example of Mike's big heart, he thought if he volunteered to join the army, he would save someone from being drafted. In 1967, he was sent to Vietnam, where he served in Pleiku and Quantri, then returned home in 1968.
After returning home, Mike moved to Logan, Utah, and married Jean Ann Aschenberg on July 25th, 1970. Mike and Jean settled in Woods Cross, Utah, where they raised their two children, Nathan and Melissa. Mike provided for his family with his skill of being a meatcutter, a skill passed down from his father. During their time in Woods Cross, Mike was very well known around town, and his kindness reflected in the plethora of friends he had. You could not go anywhere with Mike without running into someone he knew or had helped.
When Mike retired in 2016, he fulfilled an LDS mission alongside his wife Jean in the Salt Lake Utah mission. Mike and Jean were married for 48 years until Jean passed away in 2018. In 2021, while square dancing, Mike met Carmen Smith. Carmen swept Mike off his feet, and the two were married in 2021. Mike had a love for life. He loved taking care of his chickens, collecting coins, traveling with his wife Carmen, and spending time with his family.
Mike is survived by his wife Carmen Horlacher, son Nathan (Valarie) Horlacher, daughter Melissa (Josh) Gardner, 9 grandchildren, 2 great-granddaughters, brother Tom, sisters: Gail, Dorthy, and Jane. Mike was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Horlacher. Brothers; Ron, Pete, Bob, and Kenneth. Sister Mary Sue. Parents Harry “Butch” and Susan Horlacher, and his beloved dog Babe.
Services will be held at an LDS Chapel located at: 11777 Willow Wood Dr, Draper, Utah, Viewing 10 am, Service 11 am, Internment at Camp Williams: 17111 S. Camp Williams RD, Bluffdale, Utah at 2 PM. For those unable to attend the services in person, a Zoom broadcast has been made available: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84622589512
Meeting ID: 846 2258 9512
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