Michael James Duff

Michael (Mike) James Duff was born in Denver, Colorado on August 28, 1957, to Margaret and John Duff. Mike peacefully passed away in Englewood, Colorado on July 17, 2023. 

Mike attended All Souls Catholic School, St. Frances de Sales High School, and graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1975. Mike attended the University of Wyoming on a scholarship for athletic trainer. Mike decided college was not for him and embarked on two careers, one with Pepsi Cola Bottling Company and then as a building engineer for several commercial buildings in the Denver Tech Center.  

Mike was involved in his sons' lives through sports, first as coaching baseball for Patrick and John then as a spectator when Justin and Tyler played football and wrestled.  

Mike had a kind and gentle heart which he showed when he helped others in need…changing tires for sisters in the middle of the night, helping mop up a flooded basement, bringing/gifting a puppy to help his sister with a garter snake issue, installing lights, refrigerators, sinks and dishwashers, showing up at his sister’s accident to ensure she was not hurt, and so many other things. Even in death, Mike continued to give of himself by donating his corneas. Mike had a special sense of humor, and it often came out. He loved his dad jokes and sharing them with the grandkids. Mike even dressed like “PA Ingalls" to Mia's “Laura Ingalls" for Halloween.  

Mike always loved spending time outdoors golfing, skiing, camping, fishing and boating. Many Saturday mornings he could be found at Raccoon Creek Golf Course with his dad. Some weekends were spent camping and fishing with his dad near Lake Granby. He loved going for drives through the mountains, especially Trail Ridge Road using the Old Fall River Road option to the top.  

In 2019, Mike was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. After surviving intense chemotherapy followed by a successful stem cell transplant, he beat this cancer into remission. During COVID his mountain drives became more important to him, Kathy & Mia. Due to his compromised immune system from chemo and the desire to stay healthy, his interactions with others were limited. These drives and healthy life of limiting his contact with others continued until mid-January. There were multiple hospital stays from January to July, 2023, as his body struggled to combat the most recent attack from pneumonia, stroke, blood clots, and more. During the last hospital stay, the attacks on his body began to win and his body was tired. He kept saying with a positive attitude my cancer is in remission and we need to figure out what is going on. He fought until he could not fight any longer. 

Mike is survived by his partner Kathy Wood of Centennial, CO, sons Patrick (Amber) of Deer Trail, CO, John (Sara) of Kearney, NE, Justin (Danielle) of Wiggins, CO, Tyler of Sterling, CO, daughter Mia Wood of Centennial, CO, mother Margaret of Centennial, Colorado, and sisters Barbara of Englewood, Colorado, Liddy (Alan Erpelding) of Lakewood, CO, and Susan of Centennial, CO. He is also survived by grandchildren Mavrick & Haylynn of Deer Trail, CO and Francis, Willa, & Beckett of Kearney, NE, Aunt Sue Gannon of Wheat Ridge, CO and a host of extended family members. Mike was preceded in death by his father John (Jack) Duff and brother Patrick Duff.   

Funeral Services: Thursday, July 27, 2023. Rosary will be said at 1:00 PM followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30 PM, both at All Souls Catholic Church, 4950 S. Logan St., Englewood, Colorado  

A Celebration of Life is being planned for Saturday, August 26, 2023. Time & Location to be determined.

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