Michael Dugan

Michael Edward Dugan, a long time Chandler, Arizona dairyman passed away on February 15, 2011 in Casa Grande, Arizona at the age of 91.
Mike was born on the family farm in Cato Township, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin on October 3, 1919 son of the late Thomas and Christina Vechart Dugan. He learned to work hard in his youth, running the farm at the age of nineteen due to the sudden death of his father. During the Great Depression horsepower was a necessity on the farm. Mike’s special ability with teams of Percheron and Belgian draft horses led him to enter and either place or win at horse pulling contests all over the Midwest and Canada, augmenting the farm income between planting and harvesting seasons. In 1948 he won the Horsemanship trophy at the National Horse Pulling Contest.
In1943 he wed Delores Mancoske in Kellnersville, WI. A fourth generation of Dugans dairying was insured with the birth of their first son in 1945. Five more sons were to follow. Together, the Dugans farmed and milked dairy cows in Wisconsin for almost twenty years, raising record setting cows and winning awards for outstanding milk production. In 1962, after repeated bouts of pneumonia, Mike was warned by his doctor to seek a drier climate. He chose the small agricultural community of Chandler, AZ. Mike learned the Arizona method of dry lot dairying by working for another Chandler dairyman before establishing Mi-Delo Dairy on Germann Road. He became a member and active participant in the United Dairymen of Arizona, serving on the Board of Directors from 1972 to 1980, including six years as a member of the Executive Committee. The dairy grew from 44 heifers in 1963 to over 800 when Mike retired in 1989. Along the way he facilitated the establishment of six more Arizona dairies as each son came of age and expressed the desire to follow in his footsteps. After his retirement, the sons presented him with a team of Belgian horses. He spent many happy hours training the team and entered summer pulling contests in Wisconsin, often returning with trophies.
In Chandler, Mike was an active and philanthropic member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In 2006, with development encroaching on every side, the Dugans sold the
Chandler property and moved to Casa Grande where they attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Mike enjoyed taking a drive out to his sons’ dairies, acting as tour guide whenever visitors from Wisconsin came to town. He was always ready for a game of sheepshead and loved to dance, especially the polka. He looked forward to the annual Dugan brothers St. Patrick’s Day party.
Mike is survived by his wife of 67 years, Delores; six sons: Thomas (Katherine) of Gilbert, AZ; Richard (Claudia) of Chandler, AZ; Michael H.
(Patricia) of Jerome, ID; Dennis (Kelly) of Casa Grande, AZ; Patrick (Nadine) also of Casa Grande, AZ; and Daniel (Dana) of Chandler, AZ. In addition, Mike leaves 18 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Joe, Archie, and Jack; sisters: Marie Denor, Florence Piper, Helen Radey, Stella Hill, and Agnes Konop; grandsons, Todd Michael and Kyle; granddaughter, Tracy; and great grandson, Spencer.
Celebration of Mike’s life will begin with recitation of the Rosary at 3:30 p.m., with visitation from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 20 at Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel, 525 North Peart Road. Casa Grande, AZ. Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Kevin Clinch at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 230 W. Galveston Street, Chandler, AZ on Monday, February 21, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Valley of the Sun Cemetery, 10940 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler. Arrangements handled by J. Warren Funeral Services, Casa Grande, AZ. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Casa Grande or The Hospice Charitable Fund of Central Arizona and may be sent to 2035 N. Overfield Road, Casa Grande, AZ 85194.