Michael Hyfte Obituary

Michael Van Hyfte believed the saying "Life is Good" and didn't want it to become past tense, but it had to be September 5, 2024, at age 76, at IU Arnett Hospital. Born December 18, 1947, and raised along with his two brothers, Chuck (m. Cindy, Dayton) and Jim (m. Dale, Weston, FL), by Bud and Okah Van Hyfte in Attica, Mike remembered his favorite childhood pastime, growing up in a small town, walking about a block down to the field on South Perry Street to play baseball all day with his friends. After graduating from Attica High School in 1965, he went to Purdue, "following" his Williamsport girlfriend, Tanya Welsh, marrying her when they graduated with English Teaching degrees in 1969. And he loved her the rest of his life, as she loved him, for their 61 years together and the rest of her life. That fall, he began his career at Southwestern High School, and five years later, he became a charter member of McCutcheon High School. Over his 35 years of teaching, he served several years as the English Department Chairman, helping develop the phase elective classes of the 70's and the 9-12 Honors classes for Tippecanoe School Corporation. He especially relished the literature discussions with his senior AP students. He also served as the newspaper sponsor, golf coach, and spell bowl coach. He was recognized in the state for being an outstanding mentor of student teachers, and later after returning in 2004, being a supervisor of student teachers for Purdue University. He received various awards for his dedication and love of his students, including Teacher of the Year and the Lily Teacher Creativity Fellowship. Mike was devoted to his son, Paul, and loved him dearly, along with Paul's wife, Michelle, and their son, Braeden (Fishers). Mike cheered for the Boilers, Colts, and Dodgers. He enjoyed playing golf at the WLGCC (formerly Elks) as often as possible with his buddies, and they knew he had arrived at the course when they saw his "golf car," a faded red 1990 Toyota Celica that he drove for 26 years. He would have liked a new Jaguar instead, although an old one would do! (sunglass pic: Mike dreaming of his Jag!) He rarely missed meeting the breakfast group on Fridays. He also enjoyed traveling, reading, spending time on the computer, and having good dinners accompanied by a Tanqueray martini on the rocks, which was very dry, with olives (Tanya got the olives!). For most of his life, he had a dog as a faithful companion and especially missed the last one, his Westie, Austen. Now, along with Tanya's sister and husband, Lorna and Ron Hensley of Paris, Illinois, and nieces and nephews, we will miss Mike-a loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather; a caring brother and brother-in-law and uncle; a former colleague and teacher; and a loyal golf partner and friend. Cremation with no services (Tippecanoe Memory Gardens) per his request. Mike never wanted to go to funerals, certainly not his own. Life was good-so be it.