Michael MacDonald
September 4, 1948 — January 9, 2018
Michael James MacDonald, 69, of Eveleth and formerly of Duluth, died Tuesday , January 9, 2018 at St. Raphael Health and Rehab Center in Eveleth. He was born September 4, 1948 in Duluth to Jerry and June (Wallin) MacDonald.
Mike graduated from Cathedral High school. He joined the armed forces and served his country as a medical corpsman which included a tour of Vietnam where he received the Medal of Valor for his courage in act of duty. Mike loved Minnesota outdoor life as well as a passion for weightlifting which he excelled in to a point of setting 36 world records in bench pressing. Two of these world records still remain unbroken after 40 years. This inspired him opening a business in Duluth, Macs Gym, and later he went on to invent a revolutionary new cambered bar specific for benching which the sport now calls the “MacDonald Bar”.
Mike was preceded in death by his father Jerry, and his sister Diane Conant.
Mike is survived by his mother June (Thomas Nesgoda) MacDonald-Nesgoda of Duluth; his siblings: Mary (Dick Brockman) Higbee of Duluth, Deborah (Douglas) Stephens of Kuranda, QLD, Australia and Jeffrey (Cynthia) MacDonald of Atherton, QLD, Australia; his aunt Patricia Corbin of Cloquet; and five nieces and three nephews.
VISITATION will be Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 12 noon until the 1 PM FUNERAL SERVICE at Dougherty Funeral Home. Burial will be at Oneota Cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second St., Duluth, 218-727-3555.