Mike D. Haydukovich, 95, passed away peacefully in his home April 12, 2023, surrounded by his family. Mike was born in Globe, to immigrant parents from Yugoslavia. After graduating as a Globe Tiger, he attended Arizona Teacher’s College (now NAU) and played basketball there for a year. He then went on to serve two years in the United States Navy during the occupation of Japan before switching to the United States Air Force. In his 20 years with the Air Force, he was a B52 pilot in the Strategic Air Command during the “Cold War” and had a significant part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also served in Vietnam in 1967 and in 1968 was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses for his service there. In 1970, he retired from the military and moved to Winslow, with his wife and children. He was the City of Winslow airport manager for three years before getting hired on the then Santa Fe Railway Company in 1974. He worked there for 15 years. He “officially” retired in 1989. Mike lived a long and prosperous life. He taught his children to work hard because of his strong work ethic. He was a simple man and enjoyed the small things. He often used to say “I am the luckiest man alive” because of his family but his children and families believe they were the lucky ones. He is survived by 10 children and their families, 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; infant son and his grandson. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 30, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; burial at Desert View Cemetery in Winslow.
