Dudley: Malcon P. "Mike" Gatzke, 82, of Hayden Pond Rd., passed away peacefully on Friday, March 10th, in Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Gardner, after an illness.

He leaves his two sons, Paul E. Gatzke of Thompson, CT and James A. Gatzke and his wife Deborah C. Serrano-Gatzke of Dudley; his daughter, Nicole M. Lafleur and her husband Phil of Dayville, CT; two brothers, Edward A. Gatzke and his wife Rosalie of St. Augustine, FL and Melvin J. Gatzke of Dudley; his two sisters, Natalie P. Tenny of Dudley and Valarie G. Gatzke of Charlton; four beloved grandchildren, James A. Gatzke, Jessica M. Gatzke, Nathan P. Lafleur, Megan L. Lafleur and several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by a brother, Raymond C. Gatzke.

Mike was born in Southbridge the son of Edward O. and Stella V. (Pikul) Gatzke.

He proudly worked for more than 50 years at Gatzke and Son's Dairy Farm on Corbin Rd., helping to run the daily operations on the family farm.  He also worked as a laborer for many years at Webster Spring Co. Inc. in Oxford before retiring many years ago.  Mike enjoyed the outdoors and working with his son, James in the vegetable gardens and would cut and split all his own firewood well into his retirement.

Funeral services and burial for Mike will be private.  There are no calling hours.