Michael Francis French was born July 25, 1948, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and died December 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Kansas. Michael was the only son of Albert Frank French, Jr., and Kathryn Patricia (MacKoske) French.
Michael graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in La Crosse in 1966 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at the University of Wisconsin in 1972.
After 3 years of public-school teaching, Michael joined the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services Emergency Medical Services team as they regrouped to upgrade training. Over his 15 years there, Michael rose from emergency medical services instructor to section chief of EMS. In addition, he participated in development of national training materials and standards including the “EMS Instructor Training Course” for the United States Department of Transportation in 1985. Michael was a founding member of the Continuing Education Coordination Board for Emergency Medical Services Inc. in 1992 and newsletter editor for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians from 1983 to 1991.
Following his employment at the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, Michael served as co-director of the Missouri Area Health Education Centers Program located at the A. T. Still University/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri from 1990 to 2020. Serving the state through seven regional offices and three partner medical school offices, the Missouri AHEC program worked to enhance Missouri’s health professions workforce distribution, quantity and quality. Engaging a wide range of health professions in addition to medicine, AHEC leaders and staff helped communities enhance their efficacy at identifying, supporting, recruiting and retaining future providers. As in Wisconsin EMS, Michael was active in national AHEC program initiatives, eventually becoming one of the most recognized leaders in AHEC legislative relations. He was active in a variety of community and professional organizations, frequently holding leadership positions and receiving recognition for contributions to the work of the group.
On October 11, 1991 Michael and Janet Streeter Head secretly got married on a trip to Washington DC. On November 26, 1991, they celebrated their marriage with family and friends in Oklahoma City, OK. They worked together at ATSU until retirement in 2019 and relocated to Lakeview Village Senior Living Community in Lenexa KS in 2021.
Michael had many non-work interests through the years including collecting LP records, stuffed animals, coins, neckties, books by and about William Faulkner, about the civil war, US Presidents and state histories. He also took an interest in others’ areas of interest—oldest granddaughter Annabel worked her way up to a pitching position for the Truman State Lady Bulldogs and Michael subscribed to the feed carrying the Great Lakes Valley Conference games so we could watch the games we couldn’t go to. He also shared expertise and interest in computers/technology with Dan and shared with the entire family an interest in Wisconsin Volleyball.
While working in health administration and education and living a large part of his adult years in Missouri; Michael maintained strong ties with both theater and his home state of Wisconsin. This commitment was demonstrated by his annual attendance and support of the outdoor presentations of American Players Theater of Spring Green, Wisconsin. The joy he experienced every year from these treks was apparent from January when tickets went on sale, till the tickets were delivered in April, and positively palpable as he and Janet headed to Wisconsin in the summer or fall.
In late January 2023, after having meticulously managed kidney disease for nearly 40 years and having carefully juggled symptoms of several chronic conditions that can come with increasing years, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. After two surgeries and multiple readmissions for complications, he was transferred to Hospice service on December 21 and died December 24; all with his usual calm, persistence and grace.
Michael is survived by his wife, Janet, and by his children Rebecca (Drew) Zimmer and Daniel (Tera Linenberger) Head. He is also survived by grandchildren: Annabel, Audrey, Aliza, and Bella Zimmer and Noah and Lane Linenberger.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 300 East Washington Street, Kirksville, Missouri on March 8, 2024. Visitation—11:00 am; Memorial Service--12 Noon; Reception--1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Kidney Fund (Rockville Maryland), the American Players Theater (Spring Green, Wisconsin) or Missouri Oral Health Coalition (Jefferson City, MO).
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