Michael Burton Reese

CARBONDALE - Michael Burton Reese died after a long illness at home in Carbondale, Illinois on April 20, 2016 at the age of 73.



Michael is survived by his son Mark Reese, in Chicago; daughter Leslie Korando, in Carbondale, Illinois; former wife Wilma Reese, in Carbondale, Illinois; and sister Terry Galloway in Maryland.



He is preceded in death by his loving sister, Debby Reese of Chicago.



Michael was born on August 31, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to Morris and Lillian Reese. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Master’s degree in Microbiology, though had pursued a Doctorate in the same field. He was married to Wilma Reese on June 3, 1967 and remained friends with her after their divorce. Over the next several years, the couple welcomed two children, Mark and Leslie, into their home. His children remember him as a fiercely intellectually curious man who sought to understand the world around him in every possible way, particularly from a scientific and technological perspective.



Michael was accomplished in understanding the inner workings of even the most complex technological systems and was famed for being able to take apart and repair almost anything, as well as deriving intense delight from the problem solving process.



A memorial service is planned for mid-June in Chicago, IL. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Michael's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation at PKD Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.



The family would like to especially thank Marissa Miravete for her years of tireless and loving dedication to improving and extending Michael’s life. She was an inspiration to us all.