Michael Tiberg

Michael David Tiberg, age 70, passed away on May 24, 2024 in Traverse City surrounded by family; after a battle with ALS. A loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather and respected healthcare professional. Mike will be missed by all those that knew him.

Mike was born on March 16, 1954 in Traverse City to Rosemary (Pellegrini) Tiberg and Henry (Bud) Tiberg. He grew up in Traverse City and traveled to Calumet, Michigan annually, his parent's hometown, with his parents, children, and grandchildren. Mike felt Calumet was like a second home. As a child he learned how his great-grandparents immigrated to the Keweenaw Peninsula from Europe during the late 19th century. He became familiar with the area from his grandparents and parents primarily through stories growing up in the area by his father.

Growing up in Traverse City he attended Traverse City Schools graduating from Traverse City Central (TCCH) in 1972. While attending junior high and senior high school he played football, often admitting he was not very good at the sport because of his small size. But the teammates became lifelong friends. His sophomore through senior years he was a member of the first wrestling teams at TCCH. Due to his stature he was the first varsity wrestler in the history of the program.

Mike attended and graduated from Ferris State University College of Pharmacy (FSU COP) in 1977 with his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. During school he interned at American Drug and the Prescription Shop in Traverse City. He worked at the Prescription Shop for 1 year after graduation. After the initial year in community Pharmacy he chose to change his direction in Pharmacy to be more clinically oriented by practicing in hospital Pharmacy. His career began at Traverse City Osteopathic Hospital (TCOH) where he practiced for 15 years. During this period at TCOH he graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD). After graduation he became an adjunct professor of Pharmacy at FSU COP, precepting many Pharmacy students in their final year of clinical training. He also taught periodically at FSU COP campus in his specialty of infectious diseases. After obtaining his PharmD he was hired at Munson Medical Center (MMC) as a clinical pharmacist where he practiced for more than 25 years. During the years at MMC he assisted in getting FSU COP established for a Pharmacy student program for the 4th academic year Pharmacy students. He also was a preceptor for MMC Pharmacy Residency Program (PGY-1) in the area of infectious diseases. Mike became Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) after obtaining his PharmD and when it became available obtained a specialty certification BCPS with added qualifications in infectious diseases. He practiced with the Infectious Diseases Specialist Physicians for many years at MMC. In his final years at MMC he established a Post Graduate Year 2 (PGY2) Pharmacy Residency Program for graduated pharmacist training in infectious diseases. In 2011 Mike was named Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacist of the year and in 2012 was placed in the Michigan Pharmacists Association Hall of Honor.

After retirement he briefly taught at Grand Valley State University Traverse City campus in the area of pharmacology. The final experience that he practiced in was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mike took part in the COVID-19 immunization for MMC. This was an area that he was proud of because of the effect on the pandemic but also the emotional impact of those receiving the vaccines. During the pandemic he also built and gave away many desks in the Traverse City area to children that were being taught virtually at home.

During his Pharmacy career he was a member of multiple professional Pharmacy and Infectious Diseases organizations which included Northern Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Michigan Pharmacy Association, Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, and American Society of Microbiology. Many of these organizations he served on multiple committees during his tenure.

In 1977 Mike married the love of his life Terry Ann Rice, also a lifelong resident of Traverse City. They enjoyed over 46 years of marriage together. Mike was very fortunate to have such caring and loving parents. He found a card that his father had tacked inside of one of the kitchen cabinets that said "The most important thing that a father can do for his children is to love their mother (author Rev. Theo Hesburgh)." Mike remembered this and after he was married and they had children he tried to live each day by this. They had two wonderful children, his son Matthew Christopher (1979) and his daughter Kyle Elizabeth (1982). Mike has been very proud of both children in what they accomplished and their future paths. Mike and Terry were graced with three marvelous grandchildren, Corbin Michael, Wesley George, and Sylvie Joy who called him Papa. They all enjoyed many wonderful vacations and trips together as well as golfing, skiing, fishing, boating adventures, and watching many of the grandkids hockey games.

During his life Mike enjoyed running which he was encouraged to start by his uncle Ray Tiberg during his early twenties. For many years he was a member of the Traverse City Track Club and the East Shore Running Club. He participated in many races with his running friends in the area, state, and throughout the country over the years. Mike was privileged to have run many marathons with his friends and family. He was most honored to have run the Boston marathon many times with his uncle Ray and cousin Kristen and the Chicago marathon with his daughter Kyle. He also made running a family affair being able to run many other races with his wife Terry and children Matthew and Kyle. He participated in the Traverse City Cherry Festival 15K race 44 consecutive years with the help of his family and running friends. Over the last 15 years Mike also took up road biking and the last 5 years took swimming lessons so he could participate in triathlons. During his training in retirement he would designate Fridays as Friday-Tri-days. Since he did this on his own he would tell Terry he came in first and last.

In retirement Mike tried to stay actively involved with the Pharmacy profession by teaching, speaking at conferences, and participation with professional organizations. He also enjoyed woodworking which his father taught him. After his diagnosis of ALS he tried to stay very close with those around him. The most important time he had was being with his family. Mike had so much support from all of his family and friends.

Preceding Mike in death were his mother Rosemary V. Tiberg (2007) and father Henry W. Tiberg (2021), his mother-in-law Joyce Rice (1986) and father-in-law Paul Rice (2002). He is survived by his wife Terry (Rice) Tiberg, children Matthew (Heidi) Tiberg of Traverse City and Kyle (George) Dickinson, and his beloved grandchildren Corbin Michael, Wesley George, and Sylvie Joy Dickinson of Ann Arbor, sister Deborah (Thomas) Willson of Traverse City, his uncle and aunt Raymond (Diane) Tiberg of Calumet, MI, his brother-in-laws Douglas (Marilyn) Rice of Fort Myers, FL, Bill (Debbie) Rice of Mesick, Thomas (Sue) Rice of Traverse City, and David (Bunny) Rice of Kaleva, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Visitation will take place on Friday, May 31st, at St Francis Catholic Church from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 1st, at St Francis Catholic Church, with the service starting at 11:00 AM. Visitation will take place one hour prior on Saturday, with a luncheon following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to ALS of Michigan or Hospice of Michigan.