Mike Kautzman

Michael Mike James Kautzman, 60, was granted his angel's wings on July 23, 2013, at his residence. Services will be held on Saturday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Bismarck Community Church, Bismarck, ND, with Rev. Jared Lee officiating. Burial will be held in Hazelton, ND, at the Hazelton Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday, July 26, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Mike was born on June 16, 1953, in rural Carrington, ND, to Pete and Jennie Eidsvoog Kautzman. He spent his childhood on the farm with his two brothers and two sisters. He attended and graduated from Carrington High School in Carrington, ND. He received his Associate Degree in Accounting from Bismarck Junior College. On July 28, 1973, he married his best friend and soulmate, Karen Mulske, in Hazelton, ND. United in this marriage they had two sons, Douglas and Scott, and made their home in Bismarck. He truly enjoyed helping others; you can tell by his dedication to 30 years of service with the Bismarck Fire Department, he officially retired on May 1, 2004. In 1986, he started his own business, Search Company of North Dakota and continued until his passing. Mike was very active in Boy Scouts with his sons and participated in various other youth activities with his sons. Mike was the most dedicated, loving, caring, and devoted man known. He was a supportive husband, dad, grandpa, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. His major priority was taking care of his wife and family. If not with them, Mike was well known to invite you for a free meal just to sit and visit. Mike touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity that never stopped, and maintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. He enjoyed playing cards like Pinochle or Shanghi with anyone who was willing to challenge his expertise as being a card shark. He is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife, Karen and sons, Douglas, Scott Joell, and granddaughter Nakeesha of Bismarck; Godchildren, Ashley Birkholz of Mandan and Sandee Kautzman Moderow of Wahpeton, ND; mother, Jennie of Carrington; one brother, Pete Twilla of Wahpeton; two sisters, Linda Frank Waldner and Pam Kautzman of Bismarck; eleven brother and sister in-laws, Junior Sharon Mulske of West Fargo; Rita John Bambenek of North Branch, MN; Josephine Dennis Weichel of Bismarck; James Betty Mulske of Champlain, MN; Vickie Lawrence Bambenek of Minot; Roy Kathleen Mulske of Glyndon, MN; Joan Daniel Meuchel of Mandan; Sandra Paul Kerzman of Bismarck;DennisCleone Mulske of Hazelton; Todd Mulske of Cleveland; Carol Paul Anderst of Bismarck; and loving nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives that looked up to him. Mike is preceded in his death by his father Pete Kautzman; his brother Thomas Kautzman; father-in-law and mother in-law, Bruno Sr. and Natalia Hoffert Mulske; brother in-law, Dennis Mulske; and niece Laurie Mulske.

Mike Kautzman

June 16, 1953 - July 23, 2013