Joseph M. "Mike" Furnish , age 63 of Alexandria, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at home surrounded by his family.  He was born October 6, 1958 in Lawton, Oklahoma, the son of Joseph V. and Jaquetta J. (Brown) Furnish.  Joe was a 1978 graduate of Elwood Community High School where he played football and wrestled with the Elwood teams.  He last worked at FABCO Corporation in Westfield as a crane operator for many years.  Joe also formerly worked in his father's business, Elwood Monument Company in Elwood.  He enjoyed spending time with horses on his family's property in rural Alexandria.  Joe was a former member of the Elwood Moose Lodge.  He loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren, watching Dallas Cowboy's football, and watching western television shows.  In recent years, he enjoyed dining at Friendly's Restaurant in Elwood with family and friends.

Joe's family includes his father, Joe Furnish of Alexandria; daughter, Jessie Jolynn Furnish of Camby; 6 siblings, Debbie (David) Kleinschmidt of Columbus, Sherry (Johnny) Owen of Hawaii, Larry Schoolcraft, Steve Schoolcraft, Gary (Kari) Furnish of Summitville, Sam (Nicole) Furnish of Frankton, Randy Morrison of Anderson, and Lisa Patz of Alexandria; 2 grandsons, Joshua Scott Riddell and Andrew Jameson Riddell both of Camby; special friends, Joe Hancock and Butch Reed; and several nieces and nephews.  Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Jaquetta Furnish and a nephew, Jeremy McQueary.

A funeral service celebrating Joe's life will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Chaplain David Mills officiating.  Burial will follow in Vinson Cemetery in Summitville.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 pm on Wednesday prior to the funeral at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home.  Online condolences for family and friends may be shared at www.copherfeslermay.com.