Mike Lago

Leonard Michael Lago was born on April 27, 1945, in Ashtabula, Ohio, to Leonard Lago and Meril Lago, the oldest of four children. His siblings were Jackie, Baby Packy, and Timothy.

He grew up in the Yorba Linda, California area, and it was in 1962, in health class at Fullerton High School, that he met Louise (Lulu) — the girl who would become the love of his life. Mike graduated from Fullerton High in 1963; Lulu followed a year later in 1964.

In March 1964, Mike left for boot camp with the Marine Corps Reserve program. He returned home on leave just long enough to marry Lulu on October 24, 1964 — a decision that got him in some trouble with the Corps, but one he always said was worth it.

Mike went on to serve 11 years in the Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. From 1965 to 1966, he served in Vietnam, while Lulu lived with her parents awaiting his return.

Shortly after his safe return, they moved into a small house on Balcom Avenue in Fullerton, where Lulu became pregnant with their first daughter, Michelle (Shelly), who was born on August 10, 1967. Mike then went to school to become an admin chief, and about six weeks after finishing, the family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma where their second daughter, Laurie, was born on April 28, 1969.

Mike would later call their years in Tulsa the four best years of his life. In 1970, the family left Tulsa and returned to California after learning that his mother, Meril, was ill. They settled into a home on Lakeview, where they remained when she passed away in 1971.

In 1975, after 11 years of service, Mike was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. The family later made their home in downtown Fullerton, and Mike went on to build a career as a painting contractor, running his own business, Paint Masters. Mike and Lulu spent many happy years bowling together, weekend trips with the golfers Swingers Club, and playing Five Crowns long into the night.

In 2019 he gave his life to Christ at Eastside church in Anaheim. And then only a year later, Lulu passed away in 2020, after more than 55 years of marriage. Four years later he moved to Tennessee to live with his daughter Shelly and son-in-law Tom where he continued to foster his faith at Fairview Church.

Over the years, Mike became a grandfather to 7 grandchildren and, later, a great-grandfather to 7 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed attending their performances, cooking them a delicious roast, and taking them to the fair or vacations to Carlsbad.

Mike passed away at home on September 14, 2026, in Lebanon, Tennessee at the age of 81, surrounded by family. He is survived by his daughters and their husbands Tom and JD, his 7 grandchildren, and his 7 great-grandchildren. He will be remembered as a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather, and Marine — who loved taking the family to weekly dinners at Los Gallos, enjoying an ice cold Dr. Pepper, and taming the lawn on his riding mower.