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.
Marissa and family,
What a beautiful tribute to your husband!
I am so sorry for your loss and am sorry I never knew this incredible young man. Praying for Jesus to comfort you all and for you to be comforted that he now rests with his Savior. May he live on in his two babies. Prayers and lots of love,
Kara Galyk ❤️
This is a beautiful tribute! I’m so glad I got to meet my cousin Michael and his wife Marissa. Marissa, may you find comfort and strength in the wonderful memories and in God’s loving arms. My thoughts and prayers are with you!🥰🙏🏽
This is a beautifully written obituary for a truly beautiful man.
We are so sorry for your loss. We are praying for your family.
What a wonderful tribute to Michael! Thank you for sharing so many memories of him. He truly was a blessing to so many.
My deepest condolences to Michael’s family. I worked with him at Avita but I was outpatient and not home health. He would occasionally finish a workweek in our clinic doing documentation and this was the occasional opportunity for me to get to know him better. I always enjoyed chatting with him, as did many others. He would light up and glow talking about his wife and kids and it was easy to see how much he loved them. He always had a smile and was so nice to everyone he met and worked with here. His obituary is beautifully written and his impact lives on in so many people who were lucky enough to know him. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
I knew we had a very special physical therapist the first time I interviewed Michael. I was so glad he joined us at Avita Health System in Ohio. He was a great PT to have all of us pattern ourselves after. Always kind, caring. I hope you know we are better for knowing him. He will forever be in our work family. God Speed Michael. Enjoy Heaven and know we miss you.
This is such a beautiful reflection of Michael, the way he lived and how many people he touched. We will love you forever Cousin Michael and embrace our virtual arms and prayers around the family. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
You’re Philly Fam loves all of you and we too are absolutely heartbroken as you face these difficult days ahead without Michael We hold firm to Scripture and find comfort in knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with The Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)) and we’re reminded in Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. May He comfort and keep you.❤️
Love,
Cousin Margot
I was truly shocked and saddened to hear of Michael’s sudden passing. I had a brief but very pleasant conversation with him by text last year, and I could tell right away that he was a gentle and kind soul.
I went to high school with his mom and college with his dad, so much of our conversation was about those years and the memories we shared. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to get to know Michael, even if only a little.
My heartfelt condolences to his family and everyone who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.
Hello family, it’s cousin Shayla. Nyemas dayghter. I’m so so sorry for the loss and I’m sending so much love and hugs and prayers yall way!!!🧡🫂 Rest peacefully Mike, we love yall.
What a wonderful tribute to Michael. My deepest condolences to all of you. May our gracious Father watch over each of you. Love and hugs.
Thank you to all who have left kind words, short experiences and encouragement about my brother. So grateful for all the years I had him as my brother and all the fond memories I get to have of him. Continued prayers for the family and I are greatly appreciated.
Michael will be missed tremendously . He meant so much to so many people. I have every piece of artwork he ever created for me since he was a little child, up to even the painting he sent to me while in Afghanistan. All baby Joey kangaroo’s xoxo
Some of my favorite memories with Mike were our Mexico missions trips to Rocky Point. He was always so good with kids! We also had lots of fun hikes together and did a trip to Havasupai with a group of our friends. He always had a way of making people laugh and feeling “at home” around him. He was also so thoughtful. When I went to Africa for my first time, I came home and showed him pictures and he looked at them, then said “which one do you want me to paint?” He painted a beautiful picture for me which was such a treasure. I also loved visiting him and Marissa when we were all in Colorado! It was clear he was a wonderful husband and father and I know he loved all his family very much! So much love to all of you. Sending prayers and lots of hugs!
Michael, when I knew him, was not a guy of many words. I had art class with him in high school, and aside from being a very talented artist, he would always surprise the whole table by randomly blurting out a joke, hitting someone with a sarcastic comment, or calling someone out in the funniest way. 😂
He was such a good-hearted person, and everyone was drawn to his quiet nature and sense of humor. God definitely has a good one up there now. ❤️🙏 RIP my dude!
Marissa, I can’t begin to tell you how deeply sorry and saddened I am to hear of your loss. I just found out about Michael passing. I never did get to meet your husband, however after reading his obituary, I wish I would’ve had the opportunity to meet him.
He sounds like an amazing person and such a gift to anyone who had the privilege of having him in their lives. Sending you and your family God‘s most precious blessing, love, strength and comfort during this most difficult time. 🙏🏼❤️