Mike was grew up in Galion, Ohio. He was born on January 08, 1957, and passed late in the night as October 3rd became October 4th, 2012. He fought a valiant year and a half battle with pancreatic cancer. Until the very end, Mike would think not think of death, saying "Not quite yet." He is much loved and will always be remembered by his numerous friends and family. He grew up as one of a plethora of boys (no sisters), in a family led by Barb and Ray Jokerst; a family filled with love and good humor. As the oldest brother, Mike always was willing to help out and open doors for his brothers. Mike loved the opportunities of life, and valued his family. He always gave back more than he received, and never went to sleep without saying he loved his wife. He championed mentoring in business, and believed in contributing his time and energy to charities and friends. Mike loved his family and never forgot to put his wife and children first. He met Cecilia in Columbus, even though they both went to Galion High School (although a few years apart). They clicked immediately, and in what seemed like the blink of an eye, they married. He cherished her, and their two children Andy and Christina, as the family lived everyday committed to love and acceptance. They vacationed frequently, often skiing and scuba diving. Mike loved the water, and spent his early days on annual trips to Cape Cod, later in the Caribbean and Keys, and finally owning a condo on Lake Erie. The picture on this page is of Mike in Key West celebrating his 50th birthday with Cecelia and his friends Kevin and Melissa Arnold. He loved business and finance, starting his career as an auditing accountant at "Pete." Soon enough, he would find his way into the insurance industry as a "finance guy," after a short detour as the General Manager at Jack Maxton Chevrolet. He spent most of his career at Nationwide Insurance, where he climbed the corporate ladder with ease. He left Nationwide and joined Focus CFO as a partner, providing contract CFO services to small businesses. He also was an entrepreneur: he started (as a part owner) Ohio Proficiency Test Review, a publisher of educational materials. He also partnered to establish the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy, and spent years on its Board. Mike also believed in giving back. He invested in the people he knew, through his caring spirit and willingness to help whenever needed. Mike spent years on the Board of the Hanna Neil Foundation, a facility dedicated to rescuing troubled children and youth, and eventually served on the Board at the Starr Commonwealth. A highlight of his life was meeting Muhammad Ali at the World of Children annual event. He also loved the chance to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger in Columbus as a co-presenter of an award at the Arnold Classic. His partnerships in his personal life, the community, and in business benefited all who came his way. Mike lived the honesty so many of us strive for, and balanced it with hard work and a Jimmy Buffet philosophy. He often said, "Assume the best." And whatever happened, Mike Jokerst did just that--he always saw the opportunity, never the problem.