Vernon "Mike" Kotab, 66, of Dante

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 5, 2009 at Assumption Catholic Church in Dante, with burial in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, rural Dante. Visitation will be Friday from 2 to 5 at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner followed by a Rosary/Wake service at 7:30 PM, Friday, at the church.

Vernon "Mike" M. Kotab was born December 7, 1942 at Wagner, the son of Frank and Adeline (Hron) Kotab. He died Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton after battling cancer for six months and closing in on his final treatments.

Mike grew up in Dante where he attended grade school. He graduated from Wagner High School in 1960 and then received a one year teaching degree from Southern State College in Springfield. Mike served in the National Guard from 1963 to 1969.

Mike married Leona Kocmich on January 17, 1970. They lived in Avon, Wagner and finally settled in Dante in 1971.

Mike taught at a country school near Dante, worked as a milkman, worked at Bomgaars, sold Moorman's Feed, owned Mike's Bar in Dante and served as a rural mail carrier for Avon.

Mike was very instrumental in revitalizing the community of Dante, where he served as City Mayor, Dante Fire Chief, Director of Civil Defense and many other board positions for the city. Mike was a member of the Assumption Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Dante Lake Club.

Mike played fast pitch and slow pitch ball and was a well known pitcher in the area. He started a team and hauled kids around to make the games. Mike also bowled and was an avid dart thrower for many years.

Mike loved talking to many friends and new customers. For the past five years, he started hauling mail, and again got to drive around the countryside. Mike loved playing cards with friends and family. He especially loved beating the socks off them and then giving them a chance to roll the dice.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Leona of Dante; his children: Michelle Hollmann and husband Tim and their children Alex and William; James "Gordy"; Michael "Miko" and wife Jody and their children Tanner, Breana and Elizabeth; Joel and wife Amy and their son AJ; and Dan and his children Mackenzie and Karli, all of Dante; two brothers: Don and wife Dolores of Dante and Gordon and wife Marlene of Sturgis; and many relatives and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Joe and Josie Kocmich.