Michael Joseph Day

Michael Joseph Day, age 79, a resident of New Castle, on and off for most of his life, passed away Friday, September 4, 2026 at Rush Memorial Hospital. He was born August 21, 1947, in New Castle, a son of the late Robert Louis and Ventla Marie (Chriswell) Day.

A 1965 graduate of Walter P. Chrysler High School, he was active in all aspects of band, jazz, dance, marching and orchestra, which he truly enjoyed.

He delivered The Courier-Times early on in his life, he was then employed at Westinghouse in Muncie, after that he became a barber in 1969. He then went to Guide Lamp in Anderson as a Journeyman Electrician until they closed and after that retired from Allison Transmission in 2008.

He attended South Side Nazarene Church for many years and met his first wife Suzanne (Powers) Massey and in 1968 they married and had a son, Michael Timothy Day of Anderson.

In 1967 he joined the US Army Reserve unit in Rushville, Indiana. They were an Artillery unit, assigned to Field Illumination using Search Lights. He became a 4th class specialist in rank, and he was in charge of the unit’s supply room and prescribed load lists for all the unit Motor Pool.

In Mike's younger life he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Probably his biggest hobby was being a diver, which he started in 1980. He was an open water, arch, master diver, deep and specialist diver. He completed many dives in Cancun. However, Cozumel was his favorite place and he went there for many years. Diving gave him the greatest adventures of his whole life!

Later, moving back to New Castle for retirement enjoyment he took up the hobby of growing a garden and produced huge tomato crops, just like his dad! He enjoyed growing different roses also and different flower bulbs.

Survivors include his son, Michael Timothy Day of Anderson; granddaughter, Anesa (Alex) Hapney; great-granddaughter, Josie Brumfiel; sister, Connie (Richard) Masters of New Castle; sisters-in-law Sharon Day of Spiceland; nieces, Julie Rinehart, Amie (Patrick) Thornburg and Jenifer Day; many great nieces & nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Danny Lee Day; nephew, Jeffrey Rinehart.

Burial will be held Friday, September 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in South Mound Cemetery, Legion Hill. You may express condolences or share a memory of Michael at www.hinsey-brown.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle.