Michael Pregont

Michael Allan Pregont, 85, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully, with family by his side on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Boutwell's Landing in Stillwater, Minnesota.

He was born in Wausau, Wisconsin on January 4, 1940, to the late Louis Pregont and the late Harriet Konzieczy Pregont.

Mike graduated from Newman High School in Wausau. He and former wife, Judith A. Walker, had four children Mark, Paul, Kathy and Julie. He lived in Minneapolis and met his wife, Lynn M. Whitehill, in 1973. They married in 1975 and shared 50 wonderful years together.

In 1977, Mike and Lynn moved to Chicago where he started Crane & Machinery Inc., an American Hoist and Derrick dealership located in Bridgeview, Illinois. He built a successful business with contracts and sales all over the United States and abroad then sold the company in 2002 and retired completely in 2012.

Mike traveled extensively and when he wasn't on the road, he most wanted to be home. He and Lynn purchased a second home in Sawyer, Michigan in 1990. Camp Pregont was born and for the next 35 years it was the gathering place for family and friends.

He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, teaching his kids, grandkids and great grandchildren the art of fishing and the love of the woods.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn and children Paul (Sherri) Pregont, Kathy (Mike) Beran, Julie (Rich) Feely; grandchildren Amanda (Jeff) Dodge, Nick (Justine) Beran, Caitlin (Greg) Smithers, and Brendan Feely; sister-in-law Gina (Gary) Whitehill-Baziuk, niece Jas Baziuk (Simon Makhuli) and great-grandchildren Liam, Quinn and Griffin Dodge. He is lovingly remembered by his nieces, nephews, cousins, great friends and all the people he collected in his lifetime.

Mike was preceded in death by his son, Mark Pregont; sisters Beverly Johnson, Natalie Duda, Fern Ralston and Susan Ehricke and brother Leslie Pregont.

A memorial service will be held at Brainard Funeral Home on Friday, October 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM located at 522 Adams Street, Wausau, WI. Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery on Grand Avenue in Wausau.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the memory-care facility where he resided and received excellent care:

Boutwells Landing Gables 3rd Floor ATTN: Jenica Monkman 13575 58th St N Oak Park Heights, MN 55082