Michael Theodore Vranesh, Jr., beloved father, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on February 22, 2026, at the age of 76.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri to Michael and Gertrude “Pat” Vranesh, Mick (as he was known in the early days) grew up just outside St. Louis with his brother, Rick. He became an avid swimmer early in his life and spent his formative years scouting and exploring the outdoors before entering the seminary. Though he eventually opted for the secular life, he maintained a quiet but passionate faith.
After leaving the seminary, Mike graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering; he was inspired by the space race of the 1960s and planned to enter the NASA space program. At the time of his graduation, the program had begun winding down considerably, so he applied his engineering background first in the US Army and then in the private sector, eventually working for HOK as an electrical engineer where he met his future wife, Jane. They married and settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, raising children Paul and Eileen. As a family, the Vraneshes headed south to Jacksonville, where Mike took on new engineering challenges as he worked for Stellar until his retirement. From there, Jane and Mike decided to travel extensively and live life to the fullest in a series of golden year adventures that Mike continued to remember fondly through his final days.
Mike will be best remembered as a gregarious and kind-hearted family man. He will also be remembered for his readiness with the perfect joke, or at least a knowing Irish wink, all backed by an intelligence that elevated his sense of humor to a near-Monty-Pythonian stature. He looked upon his engineering design work with great pride and satisfaction and bestowed much of his engineering prowess onto his children. Some of Mike’s other quirks and idiosyncrasies found their way into his children as well, much to his amusement: Eileen’s sarcasm, buoyant laugh, and fondness for challenging literature and progressive rock; Paul’s self-depricating humor, love of movies, and insistence that Bob Dylan is simply the best lyricist in music, period.
In his later years, as Mike faced a series of health setbacks, he continued to fight for every ounce of independence he could get while collecting as much time with his children and grandchild, Archie, that he could earn. Though his last several months seemed a constant struggle, Mike continued to live a life filled with love for his family and faith in God that sustained him through every hardship, all while keeping the jokes coming.
Mike will be celebrated at a funeral Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 11AM and will be laid to rest with his wife in Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Education fundraising page of his late wife Jane at www.info-komen.org/goto/janevranesh
