Posted by Bill Bahr, USMA '69 on July 5, 2024:

Since our Signal Officer Basic Course in the summer of 1969, I hadn't but very briefly seen classmate Mike Modeen until our 50th Reunion, then had a little more than brief talk with him and fellow Signal Corps roomie Ed Quinn at our recent 55th Reunion. A good man all in all, he was looking good and healthy there, and his quick passing has come as a great surprise. Here below is a story that binds Ed and me to Mike. It appears in my earlier TAPS eulogy for classmate Mel Tinker (RIP). "Mel Tinker and his lovely wife were part of one of my trips to paradise. A number of us recent USMA graduates had shown up propitiously late for signing up for the available Bachelor Officers Quarters at Ft. Gordon, Georgia's Signal Officer Basic Course. Our punishment was that we had to find alternative living accommodations off post. Painful as it was, four of us [Jack Black, Mike Modeen, Ed Quinn, and I] found shelter by renting an apartment in a complex adjacent to a nursing school, where we spent our afternoons suffering poolside in the sun under the care of Georgia's finest would-be nurses. While we knew that Mel was also living in one of the apartments, we didn't see much of him. We figured he was likely either studying hard and/or enjoying married life. However, as the four of us were saving big money by sharing the apartment and getting per-diem pay to boot, we felt compelled to assuage our monetary and classmate-neglecting guilt by pre-discovering the Atkins Diet and eating steak at least twice a day. Yet good times eventually had to end. As the day of reckoning came, we either had to clean-up our apartment or pay a fee. That's when we remembered Mel had a vacuum cleaner, and we immediately put a stop to our shameful neglect of a very generous and accommodating classmate! "Although I didn't see Mel after that, I understand he was also first stationed in Germany, as was I. USMA and SOBC classmate, may he rest in peace...." More than this I cannot really say about Mike, unless to add his Howitzer entry below: MICHAEL DENNIS MODEEN Superior, Wisconsin, B-1 Because of his nasal voice, Mike probably caught as much static as any plebe, but he never let that deter him from doing his best. West Point may have given "M" a new method of shining shoes and a different duty concept, but the basic man -- the lovable, enthusiastic, idealistic, humorous, life-loving Swede -- is still all there. Perhaps that is why we feel it has been such a privilege to know him and call him our friend. We expect a lot from Mike in the future and so do many others. We are confident this man will never let us down. Behavioral Science Club 2,1; Fine Arts Forum 3,2; Math Forum 2, 1; Cardinal Newman Forum 4,1; Russian Club 2.1. Signal Corps. And I did just find this, an obituary for Mike from the Virginian-Pilot: 696969696969696969696969696969 Michael Dennis Modeen departed this Earth on June 24, 2024, near The Villages in central Florida. His devoted wife, Elaine, was with him when he unexpectedly passed away. Mike was born on June 11, 1946, in Superior, Wisconsin. His parents were Irene and Les Modeen. He cherished and revered his younger sister, Pam aThe Plumster.a Mike loved his upbringing with family and friends in Wisconsina|. and always proclaimed his love for Wisconsin a| and his beloved, Green Bay Packers! After graduating from high school, Mike attended the US Military Academy at West Point. Just last month, he happily attended his 55th reunion at West Point. Upon graduation, Mike served 5 plus years in the Army, which included a year in Vietnam in 1970/71. Upon departing Vietnam, Mike moved to Washington, DC, for the balance of his military time, often working in the Pentagon. While in DC, Mike befriended many folks who became lifelong friends. From 1974-1976, Mike attended the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. After graduating, Mike worked for American Hospital Supply in upstate New York. Then in 1980, Mike entered the world of retail in which he excelled until he retired in 2017. Early on, Mike was owner/manager of cookware stores in several states. Then he transitioned into management in the retail sports industry and oversaw operations over the years in northern Virginia, Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Tidewater, Virginia. Upon retiring, Mike decided to relocate to The Villages near Orlando, Florida. He had numerous friends there already and was welcomed with open arms. He was really looking forward to this next stage of his life. Anda|..it turned out to be better than he ever dreamed it would be. In mid-2019, he met, on a blind date, Elaine Morris, who turned out to be the love of his life. They were married on May 15, 2022, in Norfolk, Virginia. Mike loved to express that aunofficially " he was the oldest West Point graduate to be married for the first time (Age 75)! Literally, everyone who knew Mike would say that he was one of the most decent, honorable, caring, loving, and giving individuals that they have ever known. His heart and soul were pure. He was kind and decent to everyone, of all walks of life, whether he knew them or not. He was well-read, had strong convictions, and expressed himself extremely wella|but was always willing to listen to the perspectives of others. He had an infectious, hearty laugh that could be heard from afar. He had no idea how beloved, admired, and respected he was a|. a special, special man of great humility. Mike loved his country and was a true American Patriot a| Uncle Mike, as his loving family called him, was predeceased by his parents, Irene and Les Modeen. He is survived by his loving wife, Elaine (endearingly, she called him Mikey and he called her Lainie); his sister, Pam (Glenn) Brazelton; niece, Megan (Leroy) Potter and children Jonathon and Ellie; nephew, Mike (Susan) Brazelton and children Jake, Grayson, Harper and Payton; and numerous other family members, dear friends and classmates. 696969696969696969696969696969 Mike, USMA and SOBC classmate, may you rest in peace.

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