Michael "Spike" Bernard Griffin

Michael Griffin of Mankato, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 19, 2024.

Visitation will be held from 5-7pm, Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be 11am, Friday, March 1, 2024 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with visitation one hour prior. Livestreaming will be available at www.mankatomortuary.com. Donations to your favorite charity are preferred in lieu of flowers. 

 Michael was born January 16, 1943 in Warwick, England to Gerald Griffin and Kathleen Margaret (Phelan) Griffin. He lived in Ecuador a few years before immigrating to Minnetonka, MN at age 12. He graduated from Minnetonka High School in 1961 and graduated with a BA from MSU. He worked as a laborer in the construction industry and was a BA for his union. 

He married Maxine (Embacher) (Cross) December 20, 1975, they were together for 56 years. He was an avid reader, loved music, was a great sports fan, loved to travel (especially to Negril, Jamaica), and have good discussions with his friends. Spike was a storyteller with a good sense of humor. He was very social, and above all, loved his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Michael is survived by his wife, Maxine; daughter, Wendee (Larry) Churchill of Duluth, MN; granddaughters, Lia Churchill of Rochester, MN and Kellen Churchill of Duluth, MN; great-grandchildren, Marcus Cameron and KaMilla Bowman of Duluth, MN; sisters, Angela Griffin of Minnetonka, MN and Mary (Dan) Thompson of St. Louis, MO; sister-in-law, Mary Ann (Embacher) Pongratz; brothers-in-law, Carl (Linda) Embacher of Mankato, MN and Richard “Dick” (Irene) Embacher of New Ulm, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Kathleen Griffin; parents-in-law, Max and Mary Embacher; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Frank Pongratz, Vincent and Jan Embacher, William Embacher, and Mary Eileen Embacher, and Dianne Embacher.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary.
Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.