HEATHSVILLE—During the week of February 10, 2019, Robert Michael “Mike” Bracken passed away suddenly at his home in Heathsville, of natural causes.
Born in Baltimore, Md., Mike attended Loyola High School and Georgetown University. He joined the Navy at the height of the Vietnam War, living on a naval ship for a year in the South China Sea. He later taught naval ROTC courses and earned a master’s in business at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill, while also teaching there. His career path led him to Proctor and Gamble and Ocean Spray, working in management for their distribution departments.
Mike was an avid traveler and pilot. He loved to fly and had his own small airplane for 40 years which he treated with the utmost care. He loved being in the air more than on the ground, and adventure was his middle name. One time he decided to fly to Europe, have lunch, and come home in the same day. He made a few trips to England to see air shows and to Ireland just to tour the countryside. His travels also included Russia, Norway, and, most recently, to Australia and New Zealand.
Mike loved cars; as a teen he worked at a local garage in Baltimore, learning everything he could about cars. His 1970 Cougar was a prize possession which he kept in stellar condition and had no plans to retire anytime soon.
When Mike left the corporate world, he made Heathsville his home, moving there about 15 years ago, having a cozy log home built that he was able to continue to build upon to his specifications and taste. In time, he became secretary of the Rivers Knoll Homeowners Association and chairman of the roads committee. He was also an active member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Kilmarnock. Further, he was a member of the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society for over 10 years.
As a member of the Knights of Columbus, Mike held the ranks of Infant Jesus of Prague, Council 11667; St. George Assembly 2821; and 4th Degree Assembly.
Mike is survived by his two loving sisters, Joanne F. Bracken and Peggy Bracken Porter (husband, William Hamilton “Skip” Porter) of Baltimore County, Md.; two nieces, Ketryn Porter Martin and Alison Trumbull of Los Angeles, Calif.; and one nephew, William Hamilton Porter III, of Howard County, Md.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Emmet Bracken; mother, Joanne Ketron Pertsch and her husband, Charles T. Pertsch; and a third sister, Susan Bracken Trumbull. He is also survived by many extended family members on both the Bracken and Pertsch sides.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northumberland County Animal Shelter, P. O. Box 305, Heathsville, VA 22473; St. Francis de Sales Church, 154 E. Church St., Kilmarnock, VA 22482; or the Knights of Columbus, P. O. Box 759, Kilmarnock, VA 22482.
Currie Funeral Home, LLC, of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
