It is with great sorrow to announce that Center for Families has lost
our Executive Director, Mike Kenitz. He passed away on Wednesday, July
15, 2015 surrounde
d by his family.
Center for Families will continue to operate under the direction of our
Board of Directors and Interim Executive Director, Meg Miller. Meg has
been managing our Respite Center for over 30 years and has been a close
confidant to Mike and our Board.
--
Kenitz, Michael M.MADISON -Michael M. Kenitz, age 60, passed
away at home on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, surrounded by his family after
a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on March 11, 1955, in
Milwaukee, the son of Maurice and Bernadine (Prodzinski) Kenitz. He
married Janet Yelk on March 30, 1990. Michael received his bachelor's
degree from UW Green Bay and his masters in Social Work from UW Madison.
He worked for Children's Service Society as Area Director in Madison
for fifteen
years, as Executive
Director for Innovative Family Partnerships, Inc. in Milwaukee for 4
years, and concluded his career in non-profit work with Center for
Families, which he lead as Executive Director for 8 years. Mike was
passionate about the WIAA Boys State Basketball Tournament, eventually
gathering a publish-worthy statistics and short story book on the
matter. He was a true UW Madison basketball fan, along with many other
athletics, personally enjoying and participating in a wide variety of
sports his whole life. Mike loved gardening, and was inspired by the awe
and beauty of nature. His other passions included: painting, reading,
all mediums of art, trains, classic cars, architecture, and music as
well. His career was one of his strongest passions, as Michael loved
working with children and struggling, low income families, where his
warm, caring personality shined. This aspect of his character was
palpable through the love he showed his family, and how he selflessly
devoted his life to them, whom he loved above all else.
Michael is
survived by his wife, Janet; daughter, Emily; son, Colin; mother, Bernie
Ruh; two sisters, Nancy Yost and Diane Bazan; father-in-law, Zeno Yelk;
sisters-in-law, Karen (Dave) Christianson, Margie (Charlie) Kline and
Doris (Bill) Yelk-Wilberg; brothers-in-law, Donny (Lori) Yelk and Ken
Yelk; special friends, Paul (Janie) Hertel; and his many nieces,
nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his
father, Maurice; and mother-in-law, Georgene Yelk.
A Mass of Christian
Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2450 Atwood Ave.,
Madison, at noon, on Monday, July 20, 2015, with Father Michael Radowicz
presiding. Visitation will be held at church from 10 a.m. until the
time of the Mass. Memorials may be made to Center for Families, Carbone Cancer Center, or to the family. The family would like to thank the
doctors, and staff at UW Carbone Cancer Center, Agrace HospiceCare, and
Center for Families for their wonderful care and support. Online
condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
