Toledo Free Press

Michael Allen Jesion, age 78, a resident of Oregon, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 31, 2024. He was born July 18, 1945, the son of Alvin Jesion and Mary (Daniels) Redfox.

Mike attended Waite High School from 1960 to 1964, graduating with several athletic honors in football. During his time at Waite, the Indians won three city league football championships. In his senior year, Mike was named to the All-City Football Team at center, receiving first team honors and was the Shamrock Club’s Lineman of the Year. Mike also received All-Ohio honors and was selected to play in the North-South All Ohio game in Canton, Ohio, where he was named the Offensive Lineman of the Game.

Mike attended the University of Toledo, where, under full scholarship, he played for legendary coach Frank Lauterber from 1964 through 1966. After college, Mike continued to enjoy football, playing for a National Champion Pass & Slam Team for the Hungry I. During this time, he was a member of the Ohio National Guard for 6 years.

His passion for football lead Mike to becoming a coach. Over the years he coached at Waite, Clay, and Cardinal Stritch. In his six years coaching the freshman Waite team, they won two city-league titles and finished second three times. In his first three years, his line and linebackers went 22 straight games without giving up a score. Mike left Waite to coach his son, Shane, at Clay High School where they won the GLL freshman championship with Mike on the Clay staff.

While at Clay, Mike started a Power Lifting Team, coaching 16 state champions and 8 runners-up over a three-year time period. He coached his son to four straight state titles. Clay High asked Mike to help the track team by serving as its Long-Jump coach. Mike not only helped, he stayed on in this capacity for 12 years. He sent five girls to Regionals and one to State.

Along the way, Mike has coached other successful football programs. He was the defensive coordinator for the Toledo Thunder semi-pro football team from 1993-1995, garnering two league championships and was chosen 3 times by the league to serve as the all-star team defensive coordinator. The Thunder finished 2nd in the National championships in 1994. In 1996, following this success, Mike was offered the position of defensive coordinator for Team USA/Canada to play and tour Europe. He was also offered the same position for French pro team located in Paris. Mike declined these offers so he would not miss his daughter as she played her senior year of volleyball.

Mike retired from the Toledo Edison where he was a Boiler Operator for 28 years. He also owned Harrys’ Sports Center for 12 years. During this time, he sponsored and played in an adult softball league as well as became an umpire at Detwiler.

Mike also had a love of sports cars. He owned many corvettes over the years but his 1961 corvette “Instant Tang” was his pride of joy. Although he would change the color frequently, it was recognized everywhere Mike went.

Over the years Mike spent countless hours traveling to support friends and family in a multitude of sporting events. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchild play sports.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Sharon; children, Shane and Jodi (Daniel) Mell and grandchildren, Tanner, Trace, Mackenzie and Madelyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Irene Jesion and Chuck and Mary Redfox.

Visitation for Mike will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm, Thursday, April 4, 2024, with a Memorial Service at 7:00 PM, at the Walker Funeral Home – Oregon Chapel, 3500 Navarre Ave., Oregon, Ohio. Memorial contributions can be directed to St. Judes or The American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.