Michael Naatjes, 68, of Comfrey died on June 29, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester.
 Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, from 9 to 11 a.m. at New Hope Lutheran Church in Comfrey.
 Service will be held at New Hope Lutheran Church on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
 Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Comfrey. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
 With great sorrow, we announce that Michael (Mike) Naatjes passed away June 29, 2022, at the Rochester Mayo Clinic.
 Mike was born February 26, 1954, in Canton, S.D. to Louis and Erma (Heerde) Naatjes. While in Canton, Mike excelled in many sports and even received several awards. After graduation, he was married and welcomed three daughters, Jessica, Jennifer, and Amy. Mike enlisted in the Marines and served with the Force Reconnaissance. Upon completion of his service he moved back to the midwest and later divorced. Mike realized that law enforcement was a calling he couldn’t refuse. He was working for Clay County Sheriff’s Office and while on patrol Mike pulled over a vehicle, and that is where he met Dawn Christoffer. He got more than he bargained for, because that traffic stop turned into 30 years of marriage and was blessed with two more children Aaron Naatjes and Haley Kempken. During this time Mike, Dawn, Aaron and Haley made their way out to Montana where Mike continued his path in law enforcement where he worked for the Montana State Department of Corrections for approximately 11 years. After the kids flew the coop, Mike and Dawn moved back to Minnesota where they both worked with troubled youth for five years until he ultimately resigned.During his last few years earth, Mike struggled with major health issues but during that time he still was the epitome of positivity. He was well known for jokes (even the inappropriate funny ones), laughter, and his ability to make you believe a made-up wild story, because he was blessed with a poker face. It was said that if his lips were moving, he was probably feeding you bullshit.
 Mike is survived by his wife Dawn Naatjes; five children Jessica (William) Baer, Jennifer (Andy) Sampson, Amy Naatjes, Aaron (Haeyoung) Naatjes, and Haley (Andrew) Kempken; 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and very special in-laws including parents, siblings and their spouses. Mike is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and granddaughter Rayna.