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It is difficult to reconcile
the loss of a person who meant much to family members and friends,
and it is even more of a challenge when it isn't expected. There are
those rare people who live each day with a measure of excellence who
leave an indelible mark. Such was the realization of many when Mike
Abbott passed unexpectedly from this life. Mike modeled integrity
in business, grace in social circles and love to family members. He
was a man of both consistency and of substance. Because of the way
he lived his life, Mike had a broad impact on many lives and a deep
impact on those closest to him.
Comments made by Mike's friends reflect the solid life he led.
*
Friend Jeff Mayfield said:
There seem to be a lot of people in life who just never get it.
Mike was not among them. He understood the grand scheme of things,
enjoyed his part and played it masterfully. He possessed a zeal for
life that inspired me.
You show me a guy who loves his wife and sons as much or more
than himself and I'll show you one of life's most successful men.
Furthermore, you show me a man who stays close to his sisters, his
aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and I'll show you a
man who is to be both envied and imitated.
*
Among his numerous community service contributions, Mike served
on the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation board as past
president.
Craig Zastrow, who worked at the hospital, said that Mike was the
consummate professional. He really knew his stuff and was a great
contributor.
He also contributed business leadership through the Lincoln/Logan
County Chamber of Commerce. Lincoln and Logan County Development
Partnership director Rob Orr said, "Mike was such a great person and
role model for me."
*
Jeff Mayfield:
He was a really good guy. We all know people who
kind of go out of their way to let us know that they are something
pretty special. I didn't see Mike do that. Instead I saw him as a
guy more matter-of-fact. In Mike I saw no pretense. He paid you the
ultimate compliment by being transparent and genuine with you.
Friend Jeanne Ludwig said:
There are a lot of people that are really good in their
professional life, and there are people who are good in their
personal life -- they have a really good marriage, they're really
good parents, really good friends -- but I don't think it happens
that often that someone is so good in both of those. I don't know
how you do that, but he did it.
*
Friend Tom Seggelke said:
Mike Abbott has been a good friend since our high school day. We
graduated from LCHS in 1966. He has been a kind, generous person to
the community of Lincoln and the people of our town. Lincoln and
Logan County were blessed that Mike chose to live his life and make
a difference in the town that his family loves. He will be deeply
missed.
*
Mike possessed a brilliance that many called genius, seeing
possibilities in business and in his volunteer work that improved
area economics, health and general community betterment. "It was
clear that he saw way beyond his family and way beyond Lincoln and
Logan County. That encouraged me, that strengthened me, and that
inspired me," Jeff Mayfield said.
Mike made his living as an accountant. But it was not his skill
as a CPA that won him respect.
Resoundingly, those who either sought his business advice, shared
business interests or served by his side on boards say that Mike's
genius was outside of his just being an accountant. "That was the
background, and he just elaborated all over the place," Jeanne
Ludwig said. She remembers that Mike was right by her husband,
Don's, side through the whole process when he started Elkhart Grain.
In a lot of ways, Mike made it happen, she said.
"As a professional he had ideas for things that caused people to
go, 'Wow!' He could have been a person making a difference being
successful somewhere like New York City. But here he was in this
small town doing these things and doing them so well," Jeanne said.
Some of Mike's success could be attributed to the way he could
work well others. He would blend his expertise with his clients. It
was success for everyone.
Jim Copper paid the highest compliment that could be attributed
to a businessman. He said that he felt confident sending his clients
to Mike, as he provided prompt, reliable, reasonably priced service.
As an attorney, Bill Bates said that he had opportunity to refer
some of his clients to Mike. Bill also appreciated the confidence he
could place in Mike, "In 28 years, without fail, those clients were
thrilled to become acquainted with Mike, some even becoming friends
with him outside the office."
The other day Bill said that with each passing day he finds that
he thinks more about Mike, rather than less. Every day
becomes more difficult to deal with as he comes across shared files
with ongoing matters with mutual clients. "I relied on Mike with
mutual respect," Bill said. "As a professional he made it easier."
Bill also had the privilege to serve on a community foundation
board with Mike for the past eight years. Their lives became more
intertwined during this time, as they were two of only three
directors co-managing the setup and running of the Woods Foundation.
That foundation's purpose is to improve quality of life here.
*
Bill Bates:
We've accomplished a lot of good things through the foundation
that Mike was instrumental in and sometimes the driving force
behind. In back of my mind, Mike's still a part of this. He will be
sorely missed for his foresight and vision of things that would help
the community. Doing those things brought him pleasure. It's
disheartening that he's not going to be a part of that.
It's going to take a long time to get by.
*
[to top of second column] |
 A few reflections on Mike's personality:
*
Friend Jeanne Ludwig:
Reflecting, it was a revelation to realize that in
20-some years, except for a couple times he didn't feel well, Mike
didn't ever not have a smile on his face. He was always the sunshine
of the party.
If there was a group of people and there was someone
there new to the group, Mike would be the one to go talk to them and
make them feel part of the group. He had an absolute knack to make
someone feel better about being there.
He was really fun to travel with; he was so
laid-back, so easy. He wasn't demanding or high-maintenance.
*
The mark of an amazing husband:
Friend Jeanne Ludwig:
Bobbi's job is pretty demanding. There are a lot of
obligations and a lot of late meetings all the time. He was always
there behind her making it OK to do all that. He was never one of
those husbands that would go, "What? You're going to be out late
again tonight." It was not a part of who he was. At one time she was
at home cooking dinners every night. When that changed, he never
complained about eating out or getting carryout. If that was what
she wanted to do, he saw that it was worthwhile, and he wanted her
to do it.
No complaints were heard from his wife, Bobbi -- ones that would count anyway:
The worst thing that she ever said about him as a
husband was that he snored. He was a loud snorer. It was the only
thing Bobbi was ever heard to complain about him as a husband.
*
He loved playing golf.
Mixed-company golf:
Friend Jeanne Ludwig:
(Said with amusement) When he was not playing
well, ew, it made him grouchy. He didn't like it. He wanted to play
well all the time. And no one plays well all of the time.
The guys' golf:
Friend Bill Bates:
From time to time I organize golf outings of 12 or
more for a two- to three-day trip. You put together groups to play
together. Any time you organize a trip there are always people that
like some people more than others. Of all the years we went on golf
trips, anytime I said, "Mike is on your team," they'd always say,
"Oh, that's great. He's fun to play with."
Bill concluded by saying, "There isn't anyone that
would ever have a bad word to say about Mike."
*
Friend Dave Golwitzer:
I think Mike was one of those rare individuals "who
was perceived, looked the same and came across as the same person to
everyone he met." By that I mean he was very much a genuine person.
He presented no facades and never pretended to be who he was not.
I was very fortunate, as sooo many were, to know
Mike in many of his roles: friend, business owner, business adviser,
Lincoln booster in general (economic development, etc.), and
specifically what always seemed closest to his heart were the
nonprofit organizations such as ALMH, other health care issues,
library, education, etc., etc.
In his approach to everything it seems that he was
always a consensus builder, looking for a way to "get it done." He
never seemed to get discouraged by the obstacles in life but rather
was like a babbling brook: ever insistent, ever flowing, headed
downstream, moving around, over, under and past the obstacles to
accomplish what he knew was the right thing to do. He never looked
back at the accomplishments he was involved with, taking credit for
his input... rather he was always on to that next objective with the
same optimism and enthusiasm as the last.
Mike was truly caring and compassionate. He will be
missed.
*
Friend Dale Bassi:
Mike Abbott was a generous, warm friend, and a
trusted tax and business adviser for our family. Because of the
professionalism and integrity that Mike constantly displayed, I
always had the utmost confidence in his advice. He was ever the
optimist, finding a silver lining in almost every situation, and he
was as unpretentious and genuine as a man of his accomplishments and
success could possibly be. When a group of us traveled to Italy a
few years ago, Mike seemed to find great contentment in the simple
pleasures of the countryside, sipping Chianti and enjoying a game of
bocce ball more than touring the palaces and galleries of Florence
or Rome; because he was, after all, a small-town guy at heart, with
roots deep in the soil of Logan County.
Mike was a great supporter of many groups and
organizations in Lincoln and Logan County, in particular Main Street
Lincoln, on whose board I served at a time when we could not
possibly have survived without Mike's generous donation of his time
and professional services. And of course Mike was supportive and
encouraging to those of us lucky enough to be his friend, whether it
be in a business venture , a golf league match or a tax matter. But
most of all he was totally devoted to his wife, Bobbi, and his boys,
Andrew and James.
His loss to family, friends and community is
immeasurable.
*
[Jan
Youngquist]
[J.
Michael Abbott
obituary]
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