Michael McKenna

Michael “Mike” McKenna, 65, of Salem, Massachusetts, passed away on October 4, 2026, in Salem.

Born on December 7, 1960, in Salem, Mike was the son of the late Robert McKenna and Elaine (Dallaire) McKenna. He grew up in Salem in a close and loving family alongside his siblings, Robert, Susan, Kathryn, and Billy. Mike attended the Salem Public Schools before attending St. John’s Prep with his brothers.

From an early age, Mike loved being outdoors. As a boy, he could often be found exploring and playing in the woods, beginning a lifelong connection with nature that would remain an important part of who he was. His father, Robert, was a coach and helped ignite Mike’s love of athletics, particularly basketball. Mike became an exceptional basketball player and point guard. His father recognized his ability early and brought him onto the varsity basketball team as a freshman.

That athleticism, physical strength, and love of being outdoors eventually became part of Mike’s livelihood. He spent much of his life working in tree service, beginning his career out west cutting redwoods and later operating several tree-service businesses of his own. He loved the physical nature of the work and the opportunity it gave him to spend his days outside, listening to the birds and enjoying the fresh air. He liked to say that tree work meant he was getting paid to get a workout.

Mike was naturally gifted with his hands. Whether he was working with trees, repairing something mechanical, creating something from wood, or tackling a physically demanding job, there seemed to be very little he was afraid to try. He also had strong opinions about trees after spending so much of his life among them. Pine trees were decidedly not his favorite, thanks to their shallow sprawling roots, endless branches, knots, and sap. Cedar, particularly red cedar, was another story. Mike loved it. He had recently carved three crosses from red cedar for members of his family. The red intertwined with the white grain of the wood reminded him of the blood of Christ, giving those handmade crosses a special spiritual meaning.

As a young man, Mike traveled extensively throughout the United States, taking different jobs along the way and experiencing as much of the world as he could. At age 34, seeking greater stability while continuing his desire for adventure and service, Mike enlisted in the United States Army.

Mike served honorably in the United States Army from 1995 to 1999, attaining the rank of Specialist (SPC) and serving in Alpha Company of the Motor Transportation Battalion with the 82nd Airborne Division. During his service, he earned the Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, and Parachutist Badge.

Mike served overseas with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), including service in Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula. His military service gave him the opportunity to travel and experience parts of the world far beyond Salem, experiences that stayed with him throughout his life.

Mike was deeply spiritual and a devoted Catholic. His faith was an important part of his life, and he loved Christ and tried to live according to His example. He had a deep reverence for life and believed that all creatures were made in God’s image and deserving of kindness.

That faith could often be seen through his actions rather than his words. Mike had a special connection to Immaculate Conception Church in Salem and quietly took it upon himself to care for the church and its grounds. When a sign was knocked down, Mike spent much of the night digging with his bare hands to put it back into place. During the winter, he regularly checked the church’s koi pond to make sure the water had not frozen over. In the spring, he carefully removed vines growing around the statue of the Blessed Mother by hand.

His reverence for life extended far beyond people. Mike loved animals and believed deeply in protecting living things. When his daughter Kaitlin was very young, Mike once stopped an entire job after discovering kittens in a pile of scrap wood that was about to be hauled away. From then on, he became known for refusing to continue tree jobs until bird or squirrel nests could be safely moved. To Mike, they were God’s creatures too, and their lives mattered.

He was happiest outside. He loved the shoreline, the sound of waves, wooded areas, birds, and simply being surrounded by nature. He sometimes managed to befriend entire flocks of birds, which would follow him around—a sight that seemed entirely fitting for someone with such an instinctive affection for animals.

Mike’s generosity was one of his defining qualities. He was the kind of man who truly would give someone the shirt off his back and sometimes gave away things he himself needed. On one occasion, after mentioning to Kaitlin in the car that he really needed a warmer coat, he was given one at the veterans center. Shortly after Kaitlin drove him home, Mike saw a homeless man on the sidewalk and gave the new coat to him.

That was simply Mike.

At different points in his life, he would invite people experiencing homelessness into his apartment for a night so they could eat, shower, and have somewhere safe and warm to sleep. It occasionally got him into trouble with his apartment complex, but that did little to change him. Mike frequently offered more than he could reasonably afford to give, because when he saw someone who needed help, his instinct was to help first and worry about himself afterward.

Material possessions held little importance to him. Mike could be perfectly content owning only a handful of shirts, a couple pairs of jeans, and his boots. What he did enjoy were small things—books, bubbles, little knick-knacks, and inexpensive gifts he could bring home for his children or another child who might enjoy them. He remained, in many ways, a kid at heart.

Music was another constant in Mike’s life. He could happily listen for hours and had little patience for anyone who tried to turn it off. His favorites included Karen Carpenter, Céline Dion, Bad Company, Al Green and the Allman Brothers. As Kaitlin grew older and smartphones made almost any song available on demand, Mike would ask her to play his favorites during their drives together. For him, music was part of keeping the good times going.

Above everything else, Mike loved his family.

He was the proud father of Kaitlin Khalil McKenna and Robert Albert McKenna. He passed his love of basketball on to both of his children, with Kaitlin playing throughout high school and Robert playing for much of his high school years.

Some of Kaitlin and Robert’s happiest childhood memories with their father were the simple ones. Mike would load their bicycles up and take them to Salem Willows, where they would spend the entire day together until closing. Popcorn, skee-ball, bicycles, and long days by the water became the kinds of memories that would mean more with time.

Mike also helped nurture Kaitlin’s love of art. During late nights together at the dining room table, he taught her how to draw trees, stick figures, and a little house sitting on a hill. As she continued drawing and eventually became an artist, Mike proudly showed her work to his friends—even in the early days when she herself did not think it was very good. His belief in her came first.

Mike shared a deep and enduring love with his longtime partner, Lisa Ann Bolys. Through the many years and chapters of their lives, their bond remained significant. Mike treasured the simple moments spent with Lisa and with his children, and those relationships were among the most meaningful of his life.

Mike was also fortunate to have a longtime friend and employer, Marc Langevain, whose friendship with Mike spanned decades. Their working relationship came full circle over the years: when Marc was beginning his career, Mike helped show him the ropes, and later Mike came to work for Marc. Marc provided Mike not only with steady work but also with friendship, loyalty, and kindness through difficult periods of his life. Mike’s family will always be grateful for the way Marc looked out for him and for the friendship the two men shared.

Mike is survived by his children, Kaitlin Khalil McKenna and Robert Albert McKenna; his longtime partner, Lisa Ann Bolys; his siblings Susan Munroe, Robert and Billy McKenna; his beloved nephews Nick and John; his beloved nieces Madison and Elizabeth; his longtime friend Marc Langevain; and many other relatives, friends, coworkers, fellow veterans, and people whose lives were touched by his generosity.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert McKenna and Elaine (Dallaire) McKenna, and his sister, Kathy McKenna.

On Tuesday, October 13th, visiting hours will be held at Murphy’s Funeral Home in Salem, Massachusetts, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Salem. Following the Mass, the burial is at Greenlawn Cemetery in Salem.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Salem Veterans Assistance Fund, honoring Mike’s service and his lifelong instinct to help those in need.

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Mike will be remembered as a loving father, devoted partner, loyal friend, proud soldier, hardworking outdoorsman, faithful Catholic, and profoundly generous man. He lived simply, found happiness in nature, music, hard work, and the people he loved, and possessed a remarkable ability to see someone in need and respond with compassion.

Those who knew Mike will remember the way he gave without expecting anything in return, the joy he found in life’s simplest things, and the love he carried for his family, his faith, and the world around him.

For more information or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.