Michael “Mike” Channing

Michael John Channing age 54 of New Richmond, Wisconsin passed away at home surrounded by a loving family on September 19, 2024.
Mike was born on October 21, 1969 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Curtis and Ruth Ann (Eide) Channing. He grew up in Fall Creek, Wisconsin and graduated from Fall Creek High School in 1988. While growing up, he spent a lot of time fishing and hunting with his dad and he was quite close with his parents.
After high school graduation, Mike attended Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College for telephone installation and repair. He could be seen climbing telephone poles the old fashioned way. While Mike was out partying with a friend at the age of 21, he saw a sign that read Prepare to Meet God and those words got his attention. He went to a church the next day and answered an altar call to receive Jesus. He experienced God in such an amazing way that after some years went by, he felt a call on his life to go into the ministry.
Mike attended North Central Bible College in the Fall of 1995. He joined a discipleship group with twelve other young men and made some lifelong friends. At school he developed a love of learning and reading. Mike graduated with a degree in Pastoral Studies. His final year, he was voted Pastoral Student of the Year and even had the honor of speaking in chapel.
Mike met Crystal In 1998 through some mutual missionary friends who introduced them on a blind date get-together with others at their home. He could not believe how lucky he was to land such a beautiful woman (and a nurse). He felt so blessed that he met someone that shared his same passion for missions and ministry. He was excited to start a life together. He knew that where he was weak, she was strong and vice versa. They were married on September 23, 2000 in Minnesota. Early in their married life he became Associate Pastor at Real Life Church in Roseville , MN where he had been serving and attending during his college years.
When they were newly married, they served the Lord as missionaries in Laos and Thailand through the Assemblies of God World Missions. Together they taught English, assisted with annual medical clinics, helped pastor the International Church community, discipled future church leaders and shared the love of Christ with various people groups. After finishing their one year assignment they returned to the US and Caitln was born in 2005. While preparing to go back overseas for a longer term of missionary service, their second daughter, Claire, was born in 2007. In 2008, they returned to Laos with a 3 year old and a 17 month old. Mike learned to speak the language and really enjoyed the food. He quickly made friends fishing and shared the Gospel. He was able to almost keep up with the nationals in his love of spicy food, a huge accomplishment for a boy from “the land of bland.” Towards the end of their missionary term, they were delighted to announce their pregnancy with Caleb who was born in Thailand in the fall of 2009. He often joked about his children saying, “we have one made in Thailand, one made in USA, and one made in Laos but none made in China.”
Mike accepted his first Lead Pastor position at Cornerstone Church in New Richmond, WI in 2015. Mike took his shepherding role to heart and saw the vision for the church was to grow through children’s and youth ministry. He was very active in Royal Rangers, Vacation Bible School, Kid’s Crew, Bible Quiz, and promoting camp. It was Mike’s dream to send a bunch of kids to camp. One year he was instrumental in sending 40 kids to camp from his little church.
Mike was passionate about being faithful to God whether that was preaching, Alpha, teaching Sunday School or combining his love for ministry with ice fishing by having the annual Walk on Water ice fishing competition.
He had a desire for people to give their hearts to Jesus and experience God’s love and his enjoyment of nature was woven throughout his sermons.
He was a good listener, guiding and encouraging many people, but he would probably describe himself as a teacher. He enjoyed researching for his sermons and teaching about Jesus. He had a very relational ministry, as people were very important to him. He got to know the people in his church and also many in the community and was very well loved by both young and old. He had a way of making people feel cared about, extending grace, acting in a non judgmental way to people he encountered. Mike had been at Cornerstone Church for nearly 10 years and had plans and dreams for its expansion. He was so happy to complete phase 1, get the new sign on the building and build the shed.
Mike was full of positivity and had a great smile. His sense of humor and storytelling ability drew people to him. He could take something that was ordinary and turn it into something exciting.
He would lighten the mood with his humor and laughter. He was enthusiastic about life and lived life to the fullest, even though his knees didn’t always cooperate with him.
In his spare time, Mike could be found fishing pretty much year round on his days off, and hunting lots of creatures. He caught some giant muskies and flathead catfish as well as other species and was actually enamored with Rough fish. After a while, he grew bored with the big game fish and got the idea that he wanted to catch every species of fish on earth. So he became a” lifelist” fisherman, catching and documenting every species of fish (even minnows). He would have loved to knock more off that list.
Mike enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his wife and children, especially his son and they had the opportunity to go on some trips together. Much fishing and hunting fun was had with Caleb. He also treasured watching his son practice and play baseball and football (and the other sports he tried). He had so much pride watching Caleb play sports over many summers. He rarely missed a game. He cheered on the whole team.
Mike was a very active father to his daughters as well, attending school performances, dance recitals, choir, volleyball and softball games, church activities and watching Caitlin cheerlead at games. He loved going out on breakfast dates with his girls and taking a drive out in the country and visiting his land. Mike would crank up the song “God’s Country” as he drove. He especially loved it when the girls agreed to go fishing or hunting with him. You can guarantee there would be laughter and even some heart to heart conversations as he would encourage them to serve Jesus with all their heart. He was extremely proud of his girls.
Mike loved to spend time developing his land, the “Serengeti of New Auburn.” It was fun for him to give rides on his tractor, and add new native species of plants. He even raised pheasants so he could release them. He was constantly trying to make his land a good place to hunt. Mike has always been a bit of a naturalist and even kept bees at one time. The land was a special place to Mike as it had been in his family for over a hundred years and held many fond family memories.
Mike fought hard in his battle with cancer. We can not change our predestined time. Life is precious and far too often short, but Mike would tell you that knowing Jesus is the most important part of your life. So in life we prepare to meet God in the present and for eternity. Mike’s desire was that God would get the glory, so choose to be a light to those around you, have faith in the Lord and remember that God loves you, never leaves you and has a plan for your life even in painful times.
Mike is survived by his loving family, wife, Crystal, daughters Caitlin(19) and Claire (17), son Caleb (14), Mike’s parents, Curtis and Ruth Ann Channing, sisters, Lisa (Jake) Tupper and Krisi (Josh) Lane, nephews, Haaken and Ryker and many other relatives.
Preceded in death by Grandparents Archie and Oleda Eide and Merrill and Florence Channing and other relatives.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Faith Community Church (1040 Paperjack Dr, New Richmond, WI 54017). A visitation was held on Friday, September 27, 2024 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services (728 S Knowles Ave New Richmond WI 54017) and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment was in New Richmond Cemetery. Lunch will follow the interment. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Mike’s service.