Michael (Mike) Joseph Miniat

Michael (Mike) Joseph Miniat, age 65, of Montrose, CO passed away at his home on March 20, 2023.

Mike was born on July 10, 1957, to Ronald and Pauline Miniat in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Arizona State University in 1979, Mike joined the family business that delivered fresh meat, which at the time was struggling and on the verge of failure.  Mike’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive gave birth to what is today a successful cooked meat business. He then set out to Colorado to start a cooked meats plant in Denver in 1987. Shortly after moving to Colorado Mike began to pursue his dreams of becoming a cattle rancher, amassing a large ranch in Parshall, CO. Mike was married to Kathleen (Kathy) Miniat in 1988 in Indian Hills, Colorado.  Mike and Kathy went on to have two daughters, Taylor Miniat-Hildreth and Jessica (Jessie) Miniat.

Mike retired from ranching in 2016 where he moved to Loveland, CO and in 2021 he joined his daughters in Montrose, CO where he planned to spend his retired years close to them and his four grandchildren.

Mike was the ultimate man of the outdoors and spent many years skiing, hunting, riding horses, fishing and snowmobiling. He loved the game of blackjack and was proud to teach his girls and many others how to play. Mike had a knack for telling stories and even more-so for creating them.  Everyone who knew him had a story to tell and a good one at that. Mike loved fireworks and the 4^th of July was always his favorite holiday to spend with his family and friends. He was a man with a huge heart and loved to help people. Mike was a mentor for so many kids and a huge supporter of 4H and other organizations advocating the future of agriculture.

Mike was predeceased by Ronald and Pauline Miniat. He is survived by his brother David Miniat, sisters Susan Kolavo, Amy Nalon and Sara Huels, daughters Taylor Hildreth and Jessie Miniat, son in law Coy Hildreth, and grandchildren Jett Hildreth, Blaise Hildreth, Haven Burggraf and Nash Burggraf, and ex-wife and dear friend Kathy Miniat.

Services will be held at Elk Mountain Resort in Montrose, CO on April 22, 2023, at 4:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Heroes for Kids, an organization Mike felt very strongly about.

Crippin Funeral Home of Montrose is assisting the family.