Michael “Mike” Dean Eden, age 68, of Springfield, Missouri, went to be with Jesus on April 1, 2023, at Cox South Hospital. Mike was born to Carl Eden and Malea Deckard Eden on May 14, 1954, in Rapid City, South Dakota. After the divorce of his parents, he and sister Kathy were given the best gift these kids could have received, a second mother, Sue Hosiner Eden, and her family, that accepted them as their own. She and Carl raised them together and added two brothers to the family. Mike attended elementary school in Lebanon, Missouri, and then went to Seymour High School.  Mike was united in marriage to Sherry Helton on October 27, 1973, in Phillipsburg, Missouri.  They shared 49.5 years of marriage. The couple were blessed with two children, Cortney Lynn Eden (1976) and Corwin (Cory) Dean Eden (1979).

Mike was employed with Zenith TV from 1973-1991 and Dairy Farmers of America for 17 years. Over the course of his career, Mike held other jobs including ones at Cox and St. Johns Hospitals. When not working, he had many interests and pastimes including tending to his gardens, spending time with his grand babies watching the hummingbirds, working security at James River West Church children’s department, talking to his buddies around the table in the church foyer, and any other chore deemed necessary by his wife. However, nothing brought him more joy than loving his family with everything in him. He was created to be a grandpa and great grandpa, and talking with people and making them laugh. He had the quickest wit of anyone you ever met. Mike will be remembered as strong, hardworking, generous, as well as being the friend you didn’t know you needed in this life, even to those who were hard to love. He was often described by others as hysterically funny and often a little naughty, but most of all, one of the best people you could ever have in your life. Mike learned to deal with whatever life deals you.  After the death of his precious daughter Cortney, he was given the task of raising her two young children. There was never a question in his mind that this was what he was supposed to do and he did it to the best of his ability. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Mike was preceded in death by daughter, Cortney; his parents; and his mother and father in-law, Stanley and Helen Helton.  He is survived by his wife Sherry; son, Corwin of Willard; grandchildren, Jordan (Callie) Willard, Ashlynn Eden (Wyatt Foster) Springfield, Jada and Parker Eden; his great-grandchildren, Maya, Maddox, Calum, Ryker Eden, and a new baby who will join the family in May. Survivors also include two bonus children, Jacob Whitehead and Ashlee Love (he loved as much as his own); sister, Kathy Yates of Kansas; brothers, Steven Eden (Stacy) of Camdenton and Bradley Eden (Angela) of Springfield; second mother, Sue Eden Seymour; and many other family members.

A visitation for Michael “Mike” Dean Eden will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 3:00 pm, in the Yeakley Chapel Cemetery in Halltown, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Council of the Ozarks Food Harvest