Obituaries : Michael Wayne \'Mike\'Banghart

Vinton—Michael “Mike” Wayne Banghart, 49, took his final Harley ride to heaven on Friday, May 2, 2014, surrounded by his family after a short but courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at Oak Grove Church, rural Shellsburg, with Pastor Tom Nesbitt officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and an hour before service at the church on Tuesday.

Mike was born May 19, 1964 in Warsaw, IN, to Jerry and Janice Kling Banghart. He attended school in Warsaw and eventually moved to Iowa. On May 23, 2003 he married Kelly Keffer at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.

Mike spent most of his adult life in the commercial roofing business, most recently for Blackhawk Roof Company (McConnell Excavating) putting roofs on new Menards stores. Mike loved detail work and those who knew him well knew he was a perfectionist. His work took him all over the United States and afforded him opportunities to attend a Nascar race and ride snowmobiles in the Rocky Mountains.

Mike loved his family, adored his grandchildren and was so proud of all his big boy toys (his Spazzz truck and his Harley). He loved riding his Harley and in 2012 took an amazing trip to Sturgis with a group of good friends. He also enjoyed watching Nascar and football. He fulfilled a dream of driving a Nascar at the track in Newton and taking a cruise to Mexico in January with Kelly. Mike was a proud man.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Kelly; his parents, Jerry and Janice, all of Vinton; daughters, Ami (Rich) Steg and their children, Ashtyn, Alexis, Reese and Raena of Pierceton, Indiana; Halie Banghart and son Jayden of Van Horne; sons, Jerry D. Banghart and Dillon Keffer, both of Vinton; brothers, Marty Banghart of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Kevin (Rhonda) Banghart of Claypool, Indiana; sister-in-law, Stephanie (Paul) Mangun, Mentone, Indiana; Kelly’s sibling, Mike (Lacy) Schoonover, Tana (Tom) Williams, Toby (Larry) Schutt and Colleen Schoonover. He was Uncle Mike to so many. He also leaves behind his dog buddies, Harley and Roscoe.

Mike was preceded in death by his grandparents, Kelly’s parents, Ed and Opal Keffer, and his faithful dog, Taz.

A memorial fund has been established.

His family would like to give special thanks to Heather Avery, his hospice nurse for the last two months and everyone at Hospice Compassus.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Mike and his family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.