ELKHART —  Michael D. "Mike" DeMetz, 61, of Elkhart, passed away following a sudden illness at 7:52 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, at Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born, in Elkhart, Nov. 21, 1956, to Mr. and Mrs. John L. and Betty M. (Wade) DeMetz of Elkhart.

Also surviving are sisters Kelly S. King and Terri J. (Jay)  Reeves-Hosterman; nieces and nephews Travis (Jasmine) King, Jamie (Chris) Brock, Kody (Brooke) Keltz and Colton Reeves and great-nieces and nephews Trenton King, Roxanne Brock and Karter Keltz.

Preceding Mike in death were a brother, Randall "Randy" DeMetz, grandparents Julius and Florence DeMetz and George and Agnes Wade, and a brother who passed away at birth.

Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart is honored to celebrate Mike's life at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, with visitation beginning there at 11 a.m.

Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

Pastor Tim Sheets of Elkhart's Northside Church of the Nazarene will officiate.

Mike was a 1977 graduate of Purdue University and worked nearly 40 years as an electrical engineer and in security for CTS and at Elkhart Memorial High School.

He was also a talented, accomplished and an award-winning radio-controlled aircraft builder and pilot, and belonged to such organizations as the Aeronautical Association, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the Michiana R.C. Chopper Club and the Indiana Radio-Controlled Helicopter Association.

He also belonged to the St. Joe County Gun Restoration Club as he was an avid firearms enthusiast, and he was a licensed HAM radio operator and an accomplished amateur nature photographer.

He enjoyed attending airshows and gun shows, donating to the VA and other veteran's organizations and keeping politically active.

Memorial donations may go to the VA medical center of one's choice.