Michael J. Caligiuri

Michael J. Caligiuri, 75, passed away of a heart attack on Friday May 2, 2025. Mike was born on October 8, 1949, to James and Rose (McClurg) Caligiuri in Des Moines, Iowa. His family included two brothers, James and David and a sister Carol.

His family lived in Waukee until they moved to Des Moines when he was 10 years old. Mike was then a South sider. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1967.

Mike entered the Bricklayer apprenticeship and started his lifetime career of masonry. He was a strong worker who took pride in his workmanship.

On August 8, 1970, Mike was united in marriage to Karen Blunck. His children Michelle and Eric followed quickly.

Mike’s passions, after his kids and grandchildren, included fishing, motorcycles which included hill climbing, motor cross and figure eight racing. He was Eric’s biggest supporter in his racing and was alongside him as part of his pit crew.

Summertime was spent in the garden planting hundreds of tomato and pepper plants used for making salsa and canning. He enjoyed growing pumpkins and gourds to share with everyone around him. In the snowy winters he kept busy with snowplowing. He attended hundreds of sporting events for his granddaughters and spent countless hours outside with his grandson. Regardless of the season, Mike had a project to keep him busy.

Mike was incredibly generous and would help support anyone he could. He continued that support upon his death as a cornea and tissue donor.

Mike is survived by his wife Karen of 54 years, his children Michelle (Tim) Kelly of Norwalk and Eric Caligiuri of Indianola, along with his grandchildren Allison and Rachael Kelly and Olivia and Finley Caligiuri; his brothers James (Linda) Caligiuri of Des Moines and David (Jan) Caligiuri of Orilla, brother-in-law Scott (Beverly) Blunck of Florida, sisters-in-law Laura Blunck of Des Moines and Doreen Blunck of Des Moines; and many extended family and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, James and Rose, his sister Carol Halbur and brother-in-law Kirk Blunck.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 9, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 720 Orchard Hills Drive in Norwalk. The funeral mass will be held Saturday, May 10th at 11:00 a.m. at the church. For those unable to attend in person, the family invites you to join them virtually through the link on his obituary found on Hamilton’s website.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Norwalk Food Pantry.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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