Michael Joseph Kinsella, age 40, of Chicago, IL, died unexpectedly November 22, 2016 while on vacation.

Michael was born on January 19, 1976 in Dallas, TX to Thomas and Kathleen (Moran) Kinsella. He attended St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater, MN prior to graduating from the International School of Brussels in Belgium, where he excelled in academics and athletics, playing soccer and rugby. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he studied engineering and achieved All-American honors on the naval rugby team. Following the academy, he was commissioned as a Naval Aviator, flying the EAB prowler under the call sign “Rocky.” He served four deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was then assigned as a test pilot in Ridgecrest, CA, testing the new F-18. Michael loved flying and found he was most at peace in the skies.

Following his Naval career, he entered the Masters program in Business at the University of Notre Dame. His second great love was Notre Dame football, a team he had followed since a small boy, so studying at Notre Dame and attending football games was a dream come true. He also took several mission trips to the Philippines and Nigeria with Notre Dame. When he graduated, he went to work for Alvarez & Marsal in Chicago as a business consultant.

Mike not only loved watching Notre Dame and Navy football, but also discussing the games afterwards with his dad. He loved life to the fullest. Always game for adventure, he would hop on a plane to go help family and friends with whatever they needed, or travel to some new country. He was well read and enjoyed painting. He quickly lit up a room when he entered, with his fun loving personality which, for those who knew him, will forever be missed.

Michael will live on in the hearts of his parents, Thomas and Kathleen Kinsella of Estero, FL; siblings: Sean Kinsella, Shannon Menell, Conor (Katie) Kinsella, and Ryan Kinsella; and nieces and nephews: Brennan, Annie, Payton, and Garrett. He is preceded in death by his grandparents.

Visitation will be from 5-7PM on Friday, December 2, 2016 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson. Mass of Christian Burial for Michael will be at 11AM on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1500 Vine St., Hudson with a visitation held one hour prior to the Mass at church. Burial with full military honors will be at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Hudson. If a charitable donation is preferred in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, www.nmcrs.org or Attn: Development, 875 N. Randolph St. Ste 225, Arlington, VA 22203.

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