According to his obituary, Mike died unexpectedly on a bicycle ride Sunday, March 3.
A member of the Ironworkers Union, Local 11 Mike “loved the challenges of his job, especially the thrill of working on structures from very great heights,” his obituary reads. He was outspoken and “always tried to push his own personal limits.”
“Wrestling was his lifelong passion, and he trained his body, mind and spirit with diligence and devotion to the art and skills of the sport.” Mike — or Coach Mikey, as he was affectionately called — spent more than 10 years coaching youth baseball, softball, and wrestling.
“RIP Mike Burns. You will be missed. Thank you for being one of the reasons David Jr. is the wrestler that he is today!” one mourner wrote on Facebook. “You were one of his favorite coaches in all the sports he played. The world lost a great person.”
“Shock and disbelief are the emotions of the hour as our family processes the tragic loss of my beloved cousin Mike Burns, a man of intense passion, raw authenticity, and endless humor,” one of his cousins said. “Mike was a man who never failed to make an impact on those who knew him, and it was a true blessing to have been gifted the warmth of his love.”