Michael "Mike" Corcoran, 51, of Flandreau, SD, passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, June 3, 2024 at Eastman Hall in Flandreau. Visitation with the family present will begin at 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 2, 2024 with an all-night wake service beginning at 7:00 PM also at Eastman Hall.
Michael Raymond Corcoran, Jr., (Mato Waunsida Omani), “Bear that walks with Compassion”, age 51, of Flandreau, SD, started his journey on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at his home. Funeral services will be held at Monday, June 3, at 10:30 a.m., at Eastman Hall, in Flandreau, SD. Visitation will take place from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Sunday, June 2, followed by an all-night wake service to begin at 7:00 pm, at Eastman Hall.
Michael Raymond Corcoran, was born on February 12, 1973 to Michael R. Corcoran, Sr., and LaVonna “Bunny” Allen, in Flandreau, SD. He was a member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and grew up most of his life on the Wakpa Ipaksan reservation. Throughout Michael’s childhood, he attended the Flandreau Public Schools. When he was only in the first grade, his father, Mike, remembers taking him to school in the morning, dropping him off, only to have Michael slip out the back door of the school to go play with his cousin Jerry Martens at his home. The school would have to call his parents asking where he was that day. Michael also attended the Wahpeton Indian Boarding School in the 8th grade. He later received his GED upon returning to Flandreau. In 1996, Michael, along with his partner, Lauriene Salway, decided to move to Lawrence, KS, where he enrolled in classes at Haskell Indian University. They stayed there for a short time and then returned to Flandreau, SD.
Having a keen eye for mechanical work, he went on to work for Allen’s Auto Repair with his cousin, Victor Allen. Victor recalls one time that Michael was in the back lot of the shop working underneath a car. Victor began driving a car around to the back lot when he saw a garter snake. He couldn’t resist the temptation to pick it up and once he was near Michael, he yelled his name to get him to come out from under the car. He threw the snake on Michael’s lap, who jumped up so fast and screamed so loud, they both had a good laugh.
Michael and Lauriene were blessed with four children: Bradlee Corcoran, (Melena Folstrom), Michelle Corcoran, Michaela Corcoran, (Lamuel Armstrong), and Brittany Corcoran, all of Flandreau, SD. These children graced them with eight grandchildren: Anton, Aliyahna, Cassius (preceded in death), CaiLana (Michelle), Giovanni, twin girls Kira and Xylah (Michaela), and Annalisa (Brittany).
Michael’s greatest reward was to spend time with his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren were his whole life. Many times, you would see him in his scooter, riding down the sidewalk with the grandchildren riding bikes ahead of him. If they got too far ahead of him, those of us who lived near him, would hear him “gently” yell, “Hey, get back here. You’re going too far.” Those of us who knew Michael’s voice, we know it was deep and raspy but they always listened to him and returned to his side. Never limited by health issues, he pursued happiness by filling his days with family and giving all the love he could give. Michael created memories with each grandchild that they will cherish forever.
Michael is survived by his four children: Bradlee (Melena), Michelle Corcoran, Michaela (Lamuel Armstrong), and Brittany Corcoran.
Paternal father: Michael (Deanna) Corcoran, Sr.; uncles: Dennis (Heather) Corcoran, Greg (Laurie) Corcoran, and Ray Corcoran; aunts: Pat Kantz, Jan Boss, and Betty Martens; and nieces and nephews: Derek Anderson, Victoria Olson, Paige Corcoran, Paul Corcoran, Jr., Ivan Redhorn, Ravae Redhorn.
Maternal mother: LaVonna Rae Allen; uncle, Samuel (Dolores) Allen; aunts: Sally Allen, Julia “Judy” Allen, Cyndi Allen-Weddell, Linda Allen, Joyce Allen (Maple Plain, MN); brother, Paul Corcoran; sister, Brooki Corcoran (Scott Anderson); and numerous cousins and relatives.
Michael is preceded in death by his Paternal grandparents: Raymond and Isabell Corcoran; Maternal grandparents: Ray and LaVerne Allen; Paternal uncles: Roy Corcoran, Tom Corcoran, Sr.; aunt, Bonnie O’Brian; Maternal uncles, Richard (Chuck) Allen, Robert (Bobby) Allen, Pete Allen, Clifford Allen, and Howard (Howie) Allen; cousins, David and Gina Williams; Maternal aunt, Darlene Bernard; and his granddaughter, Cassius Corcoran.
