Michael Joseph Pocan Sr., 62, dies March 2 in Green Bay

Michael Joseph Pocan, Sr., 62, of Neopit, passed away March 2 in Green Bay, funeral-provider Swedberg Funeral Home reported. A former "National State Golden Gloves Boxer," Pocan was a long‑time member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Neopit and a fixture at family cookouts and Packers game nights.

Pocan was born July 7, 1963, in Chicago and attended Tribal School in Menominee County before graduating from high school in South Dakota. He married Tonya Reiter at St. Michael Catholic Church on February 22, 1997; the couple spent "22 years together before her passing in 2019." His interests included hunting, fishing, watching WWE and following the Green Bay Packers.

He is survived by seven children: Samantha (Michael) Grignon; Justine "Bunz" Peters; Catherine "RinRin" Pocan; Raeshene "Beeyah" (Dorian) Pocan; James "Bronco" (Kelsey) Pocan; Meshan Michael James "Bub" Pocan, Jr.; and Thor Pocan, his boy dog. Grandchildren listed include Kaylupe "Yup-Yup"; Kiyrah "Bagira"; Waldon "Walldink", III.; Tayson "Bug"; Clayton; Blayke; Jerred; Noah; Tonya; Amara; Lando; Mila Jade; Veda; Melina; Josie Lynn; and "a new grandbaby on the way." Surviving siblings are Arlene (Joe) Wayka, Duke Pocan, Violet (Pete) White, Alfred Newton, Jr., and Debra Pocan. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Yvonne "Posey" (Lyons) Pocan, his wife Tonya Reiter, and siblings Wayne Lyons, Chuckie Pocan and Rhys Pocan.

Visitation will be held at the Zoar Ceremonial Building, N4470 Ceremonial Road, Neopit, starting Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 2:00 pm Central (no DST) until 10:15 am on Thursday, March 5, when the procession leaves for St. Michael Catholic Church in Keshena. "A funeral mass for Michael will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday March 5, 2026, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Keshena with Fr. Hanz Christian officiating," the service listing states. Swedberg Funeral Home & Crematory of Shawano is handling arrangements; the Legacy listing for the funeral home shows 518 W Fifth Street, Shawano.

Family and community response is visible online: Swedberg’s guestbook records 2,458 visits. The obituary notes that Michael "loved spending time with his family doing cookouts especially spending time with the grandchildren," a detail that many relatives echoed in memorial postings. Funeral organizers and the family have provided tree-planting and floral options through the funeral-provider listings for those wishing to leave tributes.