Michael Reid Ade (Mike), born on June 30, 1977 in Saint Charles, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on December 1, 2022 surrounded by family after a six year struggle with brain cancer.

Mike was the son of Stephen and Phyllis Ade. He grew up, along with his younger sister Kristen, in Wheaton, Illinois, attending the public schools and graduating from Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 1995. He began his college education at the University of Wisconsin in Steven’s Point and later transferred to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, graduating with a degree in Finance. Following graduation, Mike moved to Des Moines, Iowa to begin his career at Principal Financial. In 2003, he accepted a position that moved him across the world to Singapore. Although he anticipated the position would be short-term, Mike quickly integrated into an expat community in Singapore where he developed many cherished, life-long friendships. Shortly thereafter, Mike met Mei, the love of his life. Mike and Mei married on November 17, 2007. During their time in Singapore, Mike and Mei enjoyed traveling internationally, hosting large holiday get-togethers for family and friends and were well-known and loved in their community. During that time, Mike and Mei were also blessed with three amazing sons, Samuel (age 14), Joseph (age 12) and Lincoln (age 9). They remained in Singapore until the family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2021 to be closer to Mike’s family.

For those lucky enough to have known him, his kindness and ability to connect with others always shined through. Always without pretense, when Mike met someone, they did not remain strangers for long. Mike’s intuition was a unique talent in detecting patterns where others could not. This ability both enabled his highly successful career in portfolio management and highlighted accomplishments in his great passion: fishing. Mike fished all over the world with friends and family. Among his various fishing spots, he found the greatest peace and happiness at Ghost Lake, a quiet fishing lake in the north woods of Wisconsin where he spent summer vacations with his extended family throughout the entirety of his life.

Mike was always and unapologetically himself; from a young age, when he asked a high school girlfriend to prom by leaving a largemouth bass in her bathtub, to later in life when he’d prefer a decades-old Jim Molinari basketball camp t-shirt riddled with holes paired with his classic Adidas Sambas to an easily affordable nicer wardrobe, or when he commissioned a one-of-a-kind painting combining two of his favorites: the Chicago Bulls and bulldogs. With all manner of shenanigans in between, Mike never felt the need to follow a conventional path. He was also incredibly persuasive and often took on the role of ringleader. Above all, Mike’s fierce loyalty to his family and friends as well as his incredible generosity is something they will always remember. He was truly a light and a gift to those who knew him.

Mike is survived by his wife Mei, his three sons, Samuel, Joseph and Lincoln, his mother Phyllis, his father Stephen, his sister Kristen (Chris), his grandfather Fred, as well as his loving nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws and friends.

A private burial for the family was held on December 5th. The family welcomes all who wish to celebrate Mike’s life to a Memorial Service that will be held at 2 pm on January 14, 2023, at Saint Andrews Church 7505 Falls of Neuse Rd. Raleigh, NC 27615. The family anticipates that the service will be recorded (and potentially live-streamed) for those who are unable to attend in person. Additional details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to either of the following charities: • The Angels Among Us Walk honoring both survivors and those who have passed away from brain cancer. The family will be walking again this year in Mike’s honor and the funds raised supports research at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke to advance the treatment of brain cancer. Donations can be made using the following link: MikesMarchers

• North Raleigh Ministries. The mission of North Raleigh Ministries is to equip families and individuals in crisis with the resources and skills they need to achieve stability. Mike and his father Steve were faithful volunteers at the Thrift Shop on Strickland.