DECEMBER 3, 1946 – OCTOBER 16, 2020
Michael John Violette, born December 3, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Charles and Kathleen Violette. When growing up Mike loved to play baseball, hockey, and his passion, golf. Mike graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1964. In 1966, he joined the United States Air Force. On January 28, 1967, he married the love of his life Catherine (Cathie) at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hopkins, Minnesota. Mike and Cathie than moved to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota where he was stationed until July 13, 1968, and then was deployed to Vietnam just two weeks before his son Tom was born.
Mike received the Bronze Star and numerous medals while in Vietnam. Upon Mike’s return from Vietnam, he and his family moved to Merced, California where Mike finished his service with the Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller. In 1970, Mike moved his family moved to Longmont, Colorado where he worked for the Federal Aviation Agency as an air traffic controller. In 1973, Mike and Cathie welcomed their daughter Brandie into the family. As an Air Traffic Controller, Mike became incredibly involved with the PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) union both on a local and national level. On Aug.3, 1981, Mike along with 11,000 other Air Traffic Controllers were fired by President Ronald Reagan. After his career with the FAA, Mike bought Midcourt Athletic Footwear in Longmont, and in 1985 Mike decided to go work for the City of Longmont as a Police 9-1-1 Dispatcher.
In 1993, Mike wanted to do more to help in the community and became a police officer with the City of Longmont. Mike became highly active in the Fraternal Order of Police locally and nationally and this is where his passion to fight for Law Enforcement Officers began. In 2009, Mike retired from the City of Longmont we went to work for the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police. Mike was the State Executive Director and the Executive Director of Labor Council. Mike wrote and legislated numerous bills in support of Law Enforcement including the Blue Alert and the workman’s comp bill for Police Officers with PTSD. Mike expanded on his passion and assisted in starting the Colorado Police Officers Foundation. The Foundation helps police officers with PTSD and Suicide by providing education and resources.
Mike’s biggest joy were his children Tom, Brandie, and his grandchildren Ryan, Sophia, and Addison. Mike was extremely proud of them and was always bragging about them. Mike is survived by his loving wife Cathie of 53 years, his son Tom Violette and his wife Heather, his daughter Brandie (Violette) Puraty and her husband Mitch, his three grandchildren Ryan, Sophia, and Addison. He is survived by his brother Richard Violette and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his biggest family all his brothers and sisters of Blue.
Public visitation will be on Thursday November 5th, 2020, from 4-7pm at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel at 326 Terry Street, Longmont, CO 80501. Mike’s funeral will be on Friday November 6th, 2020 starting at 10:00 AM at St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church, 323 Collyer St., Longmont. Mike will be laid to rest at Fort Logan Cemetery following Mass, Police, and Military Honors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic seating at the church will be limited. The service will be live streamed at (to be provided soon) In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Colorado Police Officers Foundation at: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1981097 .
