Michael Ackerman Obituary

Former Durango resident Michael John Ackerman died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, in Everson, Wash. He was 79.

Mr. Ackerman was born Aug. 15, 1931, in Fond du Lac, Wis. He was raised by his mother, Dahlina, and his grandfather Alexander MacKenzie. He grew up mostly in Green Bay, where his high school was right next to Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers' home field. Family lore says in exchange for sitting on their bench during games, he was responsible for grabbing the end-zone flags before the fans got to them. Mr. Ackerman was a lifelong Packers fan.

He graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a degree in physics. At Beloit, Mr. Ackerman, who worked his way through college, was the student body president and football captain.

He met his future wife, Barbara Jewell, at Beloit. They married in 1954.

Mr. Ackerman served in the Army in Aberdeen, Md. He then took a job with General Mills as a mechanical engineer and started a career that would move him and his family all over the country.

Mr. Ackerman was instrumental in building the machinery that made Whistles, Bugles and Daisies, well-known snack foods of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the still-popular cereals Cheerios and Wheaties.

He ended his career as the senior project engineer for The Gorton Corp., a seafood subsidiary of General Mills, and traveled all over the country designing and building manufacturing facilities for its food products.

Mr. Ackerman was always involved in his children's lives and highly influenced their love for outdoor activities.

Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman enjoyed traveling. Some of their favorite places were the Adirondack Mountains, Colorado and Scotland.

The Ackermans lived in Durango for several years in the mid-1990s. While here, Mr. Ackerman enjoyed skiing, hiking and Southwest Native American tribal cultures.

"Mike had many interests," his family wrote. "He was fun-loving and had a great, dry sense of humor. He loved to commiserate with people and also play the devil's advocate. His keen grasp of the facts and analytical nature made it very difficult to win an argument with him!"

Mr. Ackerman was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Barbara Ackerman, in 1999.

He is survived by his children, Terry Ackerman of Durango, Deb Willits of Ridgway and Tom Ackerman of Nooksack, Wash.; and five grandchildren.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date.