Mike Morrissey Memorial Service is Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church

A memorial service for Mike Morrissey is being held Saturday, January 30, at Christ Lutheran Church in Faribault. It begins at 11:00 a.m.

Before Mike Morrissey passed on November 30, I did have the opportunity to visit with him briefly by his deathbed.

It was two days before his passing that I told Mike he was like a big brother to me. And like brothers, Mike and I did not see eye to eye about everything.

That often came through over the airwaves while broadcasting games, and I've been told by some they enjoyed our exchanges about game strategy and the like.

I have so many memories of our broadcasts together of St. Olaf football and basketball. Of regular season and playoff high school games and of course the boys state high school basketball tournament, which KDHL has been broadcasting since it went on the air in 1948.

I started at KDHL in Faribault on June 1, 1987. I was just out of a divorce I did not want and not feeling very good about where my life was at the time.

One of those first weekends I was here Mike and his wife, Marcia, invited me to go to a movie with them. Of course I declined, saying three was a crowd and I was perfectly fine sitting home alone that weekend.

I bring up the story because it tells you a little about Mike.

We did not know each other at all really and yet he was trying to make me feel comfortable in my new town.

I didn't tell Mike enough how much he really meant to me and I regret that now.

When I spoke with him the last time I'm not sure how much he heard and I'm not very good in such situations.

I am so very happy that Mike could say goodbye to each of his children -- Danny, David and Heather. I know they meant the world to him.

There are so many memories in my head of golfing and doing projects together.

For example, when the Faribault Woolen Mill was celebrating, I believe their 125th birthday, Mike and I put together a script and music for a fireworks display to be held in Alexander Park.

Mike did the reading of the script and I dubbed in the music and spliced it all together the old fashioned way with a razor blade and reel to reel tape.

Paul Ridgeway hired us to do the recording and of course it was Mike's awesome voice that made it spine-tingling.

Ridgeway, by the way, would be in charge of logistics for the NFL championship game that was played in the Metrodome in January 1992.

God gave Mike some incredible pipes and, as I said in my poetic tribute to him upon his passing, Mike knew how to use them.

But Mike was more than just an incredible voice. His passion about teams he covered clearly came through in his broadcasts and that's why people loved listening to him, myself included.

I really enjoyed doing color for him and I know he enjoyed having me along. Not just because he could go out and have a cigarette while I handled the halftime chores.

I know Franz Boelter was asked by Mike to deliver a eulogy and it will be awesome! Pastor Craig Breimhorst will preside over the service, and he knew Mike a little longer than I did.

Mike and Marcia were founding members of our little church on the hill and it has blessed me immensely over the years.

Let's show Mike how much we appreciated his passion and compassion. I know it won't be goodbye for me because Mike will forever be in my heart. I'm sure you feel the same way.

I hope to see Christ Lutheran packed on Saturday. It won't be hard because it is a small church. Mike and I did some readings there over the years.

The service is at 11:00 a.m.

Christ Lutheran is the church on the hill as you head out of town on Highway 60 East toward Kenyon.