Michael David O'Donnell

Our beloved husband, father, grandpa, son, and friend, Michael David O’Donnell, reunited with our Savior in the early morning of May 14th at the age of 61, surrounded by his children and loving wife of 36 years, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer.

Mike was born on December 10th, 1964, in Ely, Nevada, to his parents, David and Ronda O’Donnell. He was the eldest brother of Lisa Payne and Wendy Drury and loved them both dearly. He grew up at Ferguson Springs, Nevada, spending lots of time in the hills hiking and hunting. Mike served a proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Spain, Barcelona Mission. He attended schools in Wendover, Utah, and Ely, Nevada; college in Rexburg, Idaho; and Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where he met his eternal companion, Kelly, while working at Hardee’s. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple on June 14th, 1990.

Mike enjoyed a fulfilling 40-year career in the food service industry, including Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., Blaze Pizza, and Dave’s Hot Chicken, where he made lifelong friends.

Mike loved traveling and had visited 48 states and multiple countries. He enjoyed working in his yard, hiking, camping, and being a grandpa. Mike had a way of making every person he met feel special and loved. Once a friend of Michael O’Donnell, always a friend of Michael O’Donnell. He had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and treated everyone with love and care, touching the lives of countless people. He was lovingly referred to as “Clark W. Griswold” by his children, as he really was the last true family man.

He is survived by his parents, his sisters, his wife Kelly, and their five children: Paul O’Donnell (Tauni), Emily Atwood (Tim), Kaylyn O’Donnell, Alec O’Donnell (Abigail), and Ryan O’Donnell, seven grandchildren: Ellis, Rowan, Leon and David O’Donnell, Teddy and Lacey Atwood, and Willow O’Donnell; his cousin John O’Donnell, and aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, brother-in-law Rory Payne, cousin Tricia, and loyal running companion, Tucker.

Funeral services are under the direction of Red Rose Funeral Home of Preston, Idaho. Viewings will be held on Wednesday, May 20th, from 5:00-8:00 pm and Thursday, May 21st, from 9:30-10:30 am, with the funeral service following at 11:00 am, all at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 993 West 1000 South, Logan, Utah. For those unable to attend in person, there will be a live stream of the services at the link below. Burial will follow in the Logan City Cemetery, Logan, UT. 

The family wishes to thank the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their loving care and to Dave’s Hot Chicken for going above and beyond with their incredible support.

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