Dennis “Mike” J. Sullivan, St. Cloud, 71

August 19, 1942 - July 25, 1942

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11AM Saturday August 2, 2014 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Mike Sullivan who died Friday at his home with his family by his side. The Rev. Anthony Oelrich will officiate and burial will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls on a later date. Friends and relatives may call from 4-8PM Friday, August 1, 2014 at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud and 1 hour prior to services Saturday at the church in St. Cloud. St. Augustine’s Parish prayer will be at 5PM on Friday evening at the funeral home in St. Cloud.

Mike was born in Belgrade to John L. & Irene (Muggli) Sullivan. He graduated from St. John’s University in 1964. He married Jacqueline Wilson in 1966 in Painesville, OH and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1967. He served his country as a captain in the United States Army from 1967-1968 in Vietnam where he was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Air Medals. Mike and Jacquie moved to St. Cloud in 1969. He began his career in private law and was instrumental in the expansion of the Sartell Paper Mill, where he served as local council and Regional Director of Public Affairs for over 30 years. Mike was active in the St. Cloud community, serving on the Board of Directors for the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, the St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership and the Cathedral High School Board of Trustees, where he was the recipient of the Golden Crusader Award. He also served as the Chairman of the Minnesota Forest Industries Government Affairs Committees and was the Co-Chair of the Wood Fiber Employees Joint Legislative Council. In his free time, Mike was an avid sportsman. He especially enjoyed duck hunting, walleye fishing on Rainy Lake and fall grouse hunting trips with his boys to Black River Tree Farm. He loved spending time with his family and his six grandchildren at the cabin on Lake Alexander where he was quick to toast good food, family and friends. When not at the lake, he enjoyed countless trips abroad with his wife Jacquie and his children; often frequenting Villefranche Sur Mer, France in early spring.

Mike is survived by his wife Jacquie of St. Cloud; children, Molly Sullivan of Minneapolis; Mike (Kara) Sullivan of Appleton, WI; Tom (Carolyn) Sullivan of Edina; John (Jennifer) Sullivan of Minneapolis. He is also survived by grandchildren, Vivian & Gus Woodland, Will & Erin Sullivan, Liam & Alexander Sullivan, brothers and sisters, Gene (Irene) Sullivan, Kathy (Stewart) Laird, Carol (Jeff) Berg, Nancy (Jeff) Gibson, Mary (Mike) Rieland, and Connie (Gary) Winter, 27 nephews and nieces and 60 great nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials are preferred to the Cathedral High School Foundation and the Love Your Melon Foundation.