Richard Michael “Mike” Simmons

Richard Michael "Mike" Simmons (73) of Lincoln died Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at Salina Regional Health Center. He was born July 24, 1947, in Beloit, Kansas, to Arlyn and Norma (Wehl) Simmons. Mike was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Beloit. He lived on a farm near Glen Elder for the first eight years of his life and attended Lone Hill Country School before moving to Wichita where he attended 3rd through 7th grades. The family then moved to Beloit where Mike attended public schools.

Mike graduated from Beloit High School in 1965 and worked on the Glen Elder dam before enlisting in the Air Force in July 1966. He completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and was trained as a Medical Services Specialist at Sheppard Air Force Base, both in Texas. He served as a medic at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base in Burns Flat, OK, and later at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, MO.  He was honorably discharged in July 1970 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Mike attended Kansas State University and Cloud County Community College. In 1975 he studied carpentry and cabinetmaking at Beloit Vocational Technical School. He lived and owned businesses in Osborne, Downs, Beloit, and Lincoln. Mike was a jack of all trades, working at watch repair and jewelry making, serving as a part-time rural mail carrier, remodeling and building homes, owning and operating several pool halls, and managing numerous rental properties.  However, Mike's true passion was attending auctions and buying and selling antiques and collectibles.  In addition to owning several different antique stores over the years, he had a thriving business selling antiques and collectibles on Ebay.  He was never happier than when searching through a pile of junk to find a treasure.

In August 1968, Mike was married to Anita Kay Curry, Jewell, daughter of Reverend and Mrs. Raymond Curry.  In November 1971 he married Jean Jemison, Osborne. They had two daughters, Robin and Mikel.  In July 1979 he married Sara Cantor and they had one daughter, Shari.  In November 1988 he married Jane Van Donge, and they had one son, Darrin.  Happily, in March 2011, Mike reunited with and married his first wife and true love, Anita Kay Curry.  They enjoyed spending time with Mike's children, grandchildren, and large extended family, especially during his final years.

Mike was preceded in death by his father Arlyn and his sister Jean Rohrig. Left to mourn his passing are his wife Anita Kay Simmons and mother Norma Thompson, Lincoln; his children, Robin Braun and Mikel Ellis, Las Vegas, Shari Simmons and partner Jeff Thompson, Leawood, and Darrin Simmons and partner Michael Alterio, Norwalk, CT; his grandchildren Taylor Lancaster and Logan Bush, Las Vegas, Alexis and Kaitlyn Rawlings, Lawrence, Kylee and Katy Thompson, Leawood; his siblings Judy (Mike) Lynch and Mary Beth (Joel) Anderson, Manhattan, Robert Thompson, Lincoln, and Jeanne (Curtis) Douglass, Newton; uncle Richard (Betsy) Simmons, Venice, FL, aunt Gail Simmons, Chesapeake, VA, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life will be held in the spring or summer. Memorials may be given to the Lincoln Area Humane Society, 588 E Iron Dr., Sylvan Grove, Kansas, 67481 or to the Salina Rescue Mission, 1716 Summers Rd, Salina, KS 67401.