Our Beloved, Michael Ingram
January 13, 1983 – August 31, 2026
With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we celebrate the life of beloved Michael. To know Michael was truly to love him, with his unending humor, charm and a remarkable ability to connect with every person he met.
Michael was the favorite son of Karen Vite and Michael Ingram when he was born in Minot, North Dakota, on January 13, 1983. He was the only brother, right in the middle between his two oldest sisters, Wendy and Valerie and two youngest sisters, Cara and Esperanza. Being the only boy in that lineup gave him a special place in the family, and his sisters each had a unique connection with him and loved him tremendously. He was the apple of his mama Karen’s eye – they shared an unwavering bond, and she was always close to his heart. In every role of his life – son, husband, daddy, brother, uncle and friend — Michael had an undeniable presence and influence. He was a protector, a steady companion, a truth-teller and a joy-bringer.
Michael’s early years were filled with adventure, with his stepfather, Jorge Vite, serving in the Air Force and his family moving from North Dakota to Germany, Spain, and New Mexico before he eventually attended college in Arizona. After graduation, he built a life and a career in Colorado, and in his final years called Ohio home. No matter where life took him, home was always found in the people he loved. Michael’s family on both sides adored him and he shared a deep connection with both his North Dakota family on his mom’s side and his Philly family on his dad’s side.
Michael had a genuine heart for helping others. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University and devoted over 10 years to his career. Caring for others was more than a profession for Michael—it was a reflection of the compassion and kindness that defined his character. He was a blessing to his patients, and he especially enjoyed working with children because of his gift of connecting so easily with them. He was truly a light in his workplaces.
When Michael was 16 years old, he received the Lord Jesus’ free gift of salvation. One of his favorite ways to connect with the Lord was getting out into nature and seeing God’s creation. He said, to him, “its beauty always reaffirmed how great our God really is.” He shared that he felt so blessed to go to so many beautiful places. He hiked around and created memories in numerous scenic sites like Alaska, Colorado, Utah, Zion, Glacier Park, Yellowstone and Havasupai Falls. Visiting these places may have been where Michael did a lot of his pondering. He was known to be a deep thinker and lifelong learner. He was always reflecting and had a strong desire to find the truth and beauty in the things that mattered in life.
Michael was also a man of many talents and giftings. He loved soccer throughout his childhood and played into adulthood. He was also an incredibly talented artist, creating extraordinary paintings and sketches that we will treasure as memories in the years to come. Michael loved to bust a move and had an eclectic taste in music to match – and could be often found jamming to songs from a variety of genres, from Motown and soul, to classical and Reggae.
One of Michael’s greatest life adventures began when he met his great love, Marissa Leilani.
Michael met Marissa shortly after she moved to Colorado Springs in 2016. They quickly discovered that their birthdays were only one day apart and spent their birthday weekend together. From there, their story wrote itself. Their life together was filled with epic road trips and adventures, countless laughs and a nurturing, steady love. On August 22, 2020, Michael and Marissa were married in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
They continued to enjoy the outdoors together, but the greatest gift they shared together was when they became parents to two beautiful children, Isla and Miles.
Michael loved his children with his entire heart, and had a gift of finding a balance of being both silly and goofy, while also gently leading and guiding them. We will never forget the way he made everyday moments so fun, like creating a secret language with Miles to playing favorite games like horsie to delight little Isla, to how he made bedtime stories come to life with animated voices that had us all in fits of laughter. He was a phenomenal dad, fun and endearing, but also created such a place of comfort and compassion for his children to land.
Michael was without question, the King of Inside Jokes. There were countless people who shared a joke and hilarious memories with Michael. He had the ability of being the quietest person in the room one moment and then somehow had the entire room in stitches the next. He had a gift for finding the humor in everyday life, and he especially loved making his nieces and nephews laugh. In his twenties, he shared many moments of laughter while making lifelong friends in the church group Encounter, as they worshipped together, played volleyball and ate tacos at Baja Fresh late into the night. These were some of his fondest memories as he grew in his faith.
Michael loved deeply, laughed freely and gave generously, leaving pieces of himself with people everywhere he went. He will be profoundly missed in the big moments and the little ones—in family gatherings, on outdoor adventures, during bedtime, on long walks with Rosie and Charlie (his fur family)—and in every inside joke that will feel so empty without him. Our lives will never be the same yet they are forever changed because we knew and loved our Michael. His memory is a gift we will carry with us as we long for the day we will be reunited with him again. We smile knowing heaven got so much more hilarious – and joyful – because of Michael’s presence. And we find peace knowing he is rejoicing with Grandma Grace and the others we have lost. We will miss you endlessly, Michael. Well done, good and faithful servant.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80910. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Shrine of Remembrance. A livestream will be available at the following link. A reception will be held following the funeral at the VFW Post 101, 702 Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Michael’s name may be made to the Pikes Peak Arts Council, 1902 E. Boulder Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.