Michael Deaner

Michael Forrest “Mike” Deaner, 81, of Jay, N.Y., formerly of Tecumseh, passed away Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.

Mike was born April 24, 1945, in Tecumseh, the son of Clifford and Marie Deaner. Tecumseh was an idyllic place to grow up. He walked to school every day, ran track and played the trombone. He was accepted to MIT but chose to study electrical engineering at the University of Michigan before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1965.

He served 16 years, rising to electronics technician first class. His service took him to Antarctica with Operation Deep Freeze; to Morocco, where he met Fatima and where their daughter was born; and to Groton, Connecticut. Tecumseh remained his home throughout and was the family’s first American stop, in deep winter snow.

After the Navy, Mike worked at a nuclear power plant in New Jersey, ran a restaurant with Fatima in Norfolk, Virginia, and took up carpentry. When his father was diagnosed with cancer, Mike moved home to Tecumseh and cared for him devotedly. He later lived in Delaware, Brooklyn and Jay, where he finally had his own garden. He was so proud of all his grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughter, Laura Deaner, and her husband, Murray Schwalbaum; his son Mouhsine Moudden; his son Hicham Moudden and his wife, Christienne; his son Farouk Guamassi; six grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Beth Jean, and her husband, Rick. He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Fred and Mark; and Fatima, the mother of his children.

A celebration of life was held Saturday, Nov. 7, at Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home in Au Sable Forks, N.Y., with private interment to follow at Haselton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jay Volunteer Fire Department.