Dr. Michael Douglas Simpson, 83, beloved dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Mankato, after a brief illness.

The funeral service will be 11 AM on Saturday, June 27th, 2026 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Pastor Kathy Ulland-Klinkner will officiate. The visitation will be from 9-11 AM before the service, and lunch will be served immediately after the service in the church's social hall. Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery Columbarium.

Mike was born September 28, 1942 in Monroe, Wisconsin to Roy and Mildred (Rundell) Simpson, the first of their three children. He was a good student (he had to be, his dad was a teacher) and played on the football team (he had to, his dad was a coach) and played trumpet in the band. While in high school he worked at a grocery store, where his boss said of him, "You have some of the finest work habits of any boy who has ever worked with us. We know you will do well in college and the world."

He went on to college in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and then to Optometry School in Chicago, Illinois. He joined the Army after graduating from Optometry School and provided eye care for hundreds of soldiers going to and returning from Vietnam.

While serving in the Army in training at Fort Sam Houston, Mike met Kay Knierim, the love of his life. They lived in different states but he visited Kay in Texas often, meeting her tightly connected family. They all loved him right away. One of her cousins commented, "The Yankee fit right in!"

After getting married in Georgia and living there and in Illinois for a short time, Mike and Kay settled in New Ulm, Minnesota where Dr. Simpson joined the Akre Optometry practice. He worked as an Optometrist there for 40 years before retiring in 2008. Mike and Kay were blessed with two children for whom they provided a carefree and loving upbringing.

Mike worked hard for his patients and to support his family, almost never missing work. He golfed on Wednesdays and exercised to stay healthy and read books and relaxed on the weekends in his basement man cave. He also regularly went fishing, played poker, and visited the horse-racing track with his many good friends. For more than 50 years Mike, his brother Denny and brother-in-law John went on annual trips to fish and golf. Mike was close to his brother and sister and their families, and close to his mother before she passed. He was a family man before all else.

A staunch Green Bay Packer fan, he cheered for the Packers unfailingly during their championship drought through the 70s and 80s and celebrated with utter and deserved joy when they triumphed in 1996 and again in 2010.

In retirement he lived a vibrant life filled with even more days of golf, taking trips to Las Vegas, Texas, Alaska, Italy, Scotland, and numerous locales around the Caribbean, and spending time with his five grandchildren. Oh, Mike doted on his grandchildren. He never missed a concert or sporting event, proudly snapping photos and videos. They are all richer for having experienced his love.

Mike lived his life with dignity and respect, setting a high bar for the rest of us to follow. It was an honor to be among his family and friends, and he is already deeply missed.

He is survived by his children, Bonnie Korman and husband Mark, and James Simpson and wife Kim Simpson, and his grandchildren: Aliza, Zack, and AJ Korman, and Jocelyn and Ryan Simpson. He is also survived by his sister Deanne DeGraff and brother-in-law John DeGraff, nephews Jason Simpson and Scott DeGraff, nieces Katie Furlano and Andrea Ferguson, and too many good friends to name. A close-knit group of fellow golfers and friends of more than 50 years also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Kay Simpson, brother Dennis Simpson, sister-in-law Coleen Simpson, and nephew Jeffrey Simpson.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family would like to request donations be made to FRAXA, a corporation working toward researching Fragile X treatments and cures. Mike was so supportive of his grandsons with Fragile X Syndrome and hoped he'd live to see them benefit from a research breakthrough. Donations can be made at https://www.fraxa.org/donate/