Michael Eisenberg

Michael Eisenberg, age 82, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 21, 2024, after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He spent his last weeks surrounded by his loving family and compassionate caregivers.

Born to Fannie (Spiegel) Eisenberg and Milton Eisenberg on September 21, 1941, Mike, called Mickey by family, grew up in a close-knit Jewish immigrant family with his two siblings, Phyllis Friedman and Norman Eisenberg. His parents married on July 14, 1940 and lived in the same building as aunts, uncles, and cousins. From a young age, Mickey felt a strong responsibility for his family, taking over cooking duties as his mother's health declined. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for cooking, and Mike became known for his culinary skills as well as his other talents.

Growing up in South Chicago, Mike learned valuable skills defending himself as the smallest child in his classes. At age 12, the family moved from an apartment to a house in South Shore to be closer to extended family, where schools were also safer. In high school, he excelled in sports, participating in wrestling, football, and baseball. He graduated from South Shore High School and went on to attend the University of Chicago. He graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a BA in Psychology.

On January 26, 1964, he married Diane Rosen. They had two children, Freddi and Jame, and embarked on many adventures together. This included a memorable month-long road trip to camp in Alaska with 3-week-old Jame and one-year-old Freddi, creating cherished memories that would last a lifetime. They moved to Utah to be close to the mountains and landscape he loved.

His civic involvement included coaching youth soccer and basketball, managing a mayoral campaign, leading a Cub Scout Pack, and working with at-risk youth in the rough side of Chicago, a job he cherished. He also served on the board of the Alta Canyon Recreation Special Service District. Over a number of years, the board developed new parks and the Alta Canyon Sports Center in Sandy, Utah.

In 1992 Mike met and married Kathleen (Kathie) Keeler and helped her raise her two younger sons, Tyler and Jordan. He spent many years working as a computer programming consultant for mainframe systems still running COBOL. He then became an addiction recovery counselor and co-owner of Resolutions, a mental health clinic in Bountiful, Utah. Mike and Kathie worked and lived side by side until his death.

Mike felt a deep connection to nature and outdoor activities. He met Kathie in the Wasatch Mountain Club where they both hiked, skied, river rafted, and advocated for the preservation of Utah’s natural beauty. Mike and Kathie have enjoyed over 31 years of marriage and cherished their companionship so much that they completed each other’s thoughts.

As an avid skier, Mike was thrilled to volunteer in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as a gate judge at Snowbasin Resort, where he met people from around the world.

Mike had a remarkable ability to connect with people. He treated everyone as a close friend which made it come true. He had a playful spirit and loved to be with people. Mike was known for his jokes (of the Dad variety) and engrossing stories, which were so entertaining as to be forgiven for the occasional stretch of the truth. He loved to tease and had an unmistakable loud laugh. Recovering addicts all over Davis County greeted him warmly whenever their paths crossed.

Mike is predeceased by his father, Milton Eisenberg, his mother, Fannie (Spiegel) Eisenberg, and his dog Ivan.

He is survived by his siblings, Phyllis Friedman (Marty) and Norman Eisenberg (Lynne), and his children: Freddi-Jo Bruschke (Jon), Jame Eisenberg (Meredith), Jason Gurney (Erin), Todd Gurney (Kerry), Tyler Gurney (Jenny), and Jordan Gurney (Andrea).

His memory will be cherished by his grandchildren: Milo Bruschke, Andromeda Bruschke, Suzanne Eisenberg, Miles Gurney, Parker Gurney, Katie Gurney, Brenna Stepan (Ben), Megan Diederich (Carson), Matt Gurney, Summer Gurney, Kai Gurney, Luke Gurney, Trevyn Eckland, Rory Gurney, and Ian Gurney.

In every chapter of his life, Mike’s warmth, playfulness, and love of challenging adventures left an indelible mark on all who knew him, ensuring that his memory will be cherished.

A memorial service will be held to honor Mike's life on March 30, 2024, at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, UT, at 2:00 pm. Guests are welcome to arrive as early as 1:00 pm to greet the family. Please enter from the back (west side).

The family expresses deep gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at the Heart Failure Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Their dedicated medical care, along with Mike's positive attitude and tenacity, granted him three more years of cherished moments with his loved ones. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.