West Bend, Wi – It is with profound sadness that the West Bend Baseball Association mourns the passing of Mike Staral, longtime Secretary and Executive Member whose impact on our community will be felt for generations to come.
Mike’s legacy is woven into the fabric of West Bend, most notably through his pivotal role in renovating Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field. In 2013, alongside Cathy Lawton and Craig Larsen, Mike helped devise the visionary plan (on a white napkin) in the Fleet Farm parking. He wanted to transform the baseball field into the community treasure it is today.
“Mike showed me what genuine goodness looks like in a world that rarely rewards it. The weight of this loss feels impossibly heavy, not just for what he meant to me, but for what the world has lost, one of the rare people who actually made this world better. Life isn’t fair, but he left a legacy that will live on for a real long time,” said Larsen.
Beyond baseball, Mike served the West Bend community through his dedicated work on the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Commission and the City Planning Commission. His leadership extended to education as past president of the Moraine Park Technical College Board of Directors.
Those who knew Mike will fondly remember his warm smile as he relaxed and held court in Jeff Szukalski’s office chair at Jeff’s Spirits on Main. As a mentor, his guidance shaped countless lives. His roles as husband, father, and grandfather were the ones he cherished most deeply.
During winter months, Mike could be found in Marco Island, Florida, where he unofficially served as “Mayor” of the local West Bend snowbird community, always sporting what many called “the best winter tan in West Bend.”
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
As baseball legend Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” Mike Staral’s impact on West Bend was immeasurable, and his memory will continue to inspire us all.
The West Bend Baseball Association extends its deepest condolences to Mike’s family and countless friends during this difficult time.
