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Photos of Joe Berton, of Oak Park and Michael Cobb of Chicago in their basements with their miniature art, uesday June 27, 2017.  Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune

Michael Alan Cobb

Michael Alan Cobb died at home with family at his side.  Mike was born in Chicago, the only child of Jeanette, nee Van Steenberg, and Cordis Cobb who proceeded him in death.  He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary Kay (Henehan), daughters Lynn (Fred) Alvarez, Katie (A J) Riggs and Claire (Brian) Rodriguez and two grandchildren Brian and Katherine Alvarez.  Mike battled metastatic sarcoma for nine years.   He endured the many surgeries and treatments with characteristic puns and jokes.  His goal was to make every person he met in waiting rooms, treatment rooms or hospital rooms smile but preferably to laugh.

While names and dates are important, they don’t capture the person that Mike was.  He was a man of many interests.  He collected hobbies and along the way made lifelong friends.  Photography, bicycle riding, aquariums, books (mostly history and mostly on the British army in India, the World Wars, British military uniforms, military airplanes and the list goes on… so very many books) were just a few of his interests.  Later in life, he loved to cook and took immense pleasure in gardening.  Mike loved to fill his many pots with colorful blooms to decorate the deck.  The first trip to the garden store could not come early enough every spring and his chili is legendary.

Yet his enduring twin passions were painting military miniatures and MGs.  If he was not in the basement painting, Mike was in the garage tinkering on an MG.  He owned two in his lifetime:  a 1972 MGB and a 1953 MGTD.  Mike was actively involved in the Military Miniature Society of Illinois (MMSI) and the Chicagoland MG Club.  He held many offices in each and was president of the MMSI at the time of his passing.  Regardless of his official titles, his absence will be felt acutely by the friends that shared his passions.  Mike’s absence at the breakfast table on Monday mornings will be felt by the MMSI bunch.  His bag of spare parts and willingness to lend a wrench will be missed by MG enthusiasts.

Mike saw his beloved Cubs win the World Series after saying, “Maybe next year,” over and over again.  When baseball season ended, the Hawks hat came on and hockey took center stage.  With a game on the radio and the top down on the MG he was at his happiest.

 

Godspeed, Mike.

 

 

Visitation will be held at St. Alban’s Church, 6240 N. Avondale Ave in Chicago, on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from 4:30 to 8 P.M.  A graveside service will be held at Maryhill Cemetery, 8600 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 11 am.  Please wear a mask and observe social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, PO Box 98160, Washington, DC 20090-8160, www.curesarcoma.org/donate/ or the Gary Sinise Foundation, PO Box 368, Woodland Hills, CA 91365, www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate/ are appreciated.

Tribute Video

Visitation Date

07/22/2020

Service Location

St. Alban’s Church

6240 N. Avondale Ave

Chicago

Maryhill Cemetery

8600 N Milwaukee Ave

Niles

This post has 9 comments
Gene Cooper
20 Jul 2020

May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
We’ll raise a toast of a fine craft beer in your honor, Mike. Cheers,
Gene and Becky Cooper

Reply
Reinout & Henneke Vogt
20 Jul 2020

Dear Mary Kay, Lynn, Katie, and Claire, and families,

Our sincerest condolences with the passing of Mike. It must be real difficult to miss him as a husband, father, father in-law, and grandfather. We have nothing but the greatest memories of Mike. One of the very best was the time we spend together in his garage to get the MG TD ready for, and the time in the car driving, the 2011 WCB Tour.

Thanks for the happy times, Mike. Rest In Peace.

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Greg McCright
20 Jul 2020

A great guy and a good friend. Mike and Mary Kay were there for me when I really needed them.

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Maynard G Hirsch
20 Jul 2020

Great guy. going to miss him.

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Caitriona Chandler
20 Jul 2020

Sorry to hear about Micheal Alan.
Mary Kay and Family.
You have being Brave through out his Illness.
Now be Strong for each other. This will be hard right now but will get Easier.
Always remember he will be by your side for now on.

Reply
Melissa and dino perez
20 Jul 2020

Our sincerest condolences to the family he will be greatly missed by the mg family may he rest in pace …

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Melissa and dino perez
20 Jul 2020

Our deepest condolences to the family he will be greatly missed by the mg family may he rest in peace

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TYRONE THOMAS
21 Jul 2020

I absolutely loved the time we all shared at the Truman library in Kansas city. Thanks Mike for your Friendship. God Bless 🌻🌻

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Pierre De Rijck
21 Jul 2020

Although I didn’t know Mike personally , but through my dear American cousin Mark Matz of Chicago, my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mike.
Being a Belgian MGb enthusiast, I do feel connected in a way, as the worldwide MG lovers is one big family.

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