Peacefully on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at Humber River Regional Hospital, Toronto, in his 82nd year. He is survived by his beautiful wife Gabrielle Theresia. He will be greatly missed by his children Michele Boyer, Lisa Monica Brooks, and Thomas Christopher Sutt (Lisa Edwards). Loving "papa" to Jake Ronald Alexander Boyer, Rachel Alexi Boyer, Autumn Nicole Wood, Erin Brianna Wood, Mathew Everett Wood and Talon Michael Wood. Dear brother "Mikki" to Salme Jeeger (Heino), Elmar Sutt, Maria Voitk (Andrus) and predeceased by his sister Laine Sutt. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, god children, cousins, and friends. The family is grateful to all who cared for Mihkel at The Village of Humber Heights where he spent the last two years.

Mihkel [second child] was born at Tika farm on Kihnu Island, Estonia, hence his nickname, Tika-Miki. Father Jaan Sutt [known as Tika] was a fisherman, and Mother Tatjana (Uuetoa) Sutt [Tika Tia] tended the family farm, with extended family help. Miki attended the all-grade school, and the Russian Orthodox Church. Father was a hard-working and successful fisherman, built a new house and outbuildings, and two sailing ships. Seal hunting on winter ice brought in meat enough to last until next fishing season, and the sale of pelts to the Estonian mainland brought in cash for provisions such as sugar and rye flour. It was a good life for the carefree children, playing on the sandy beaches and in the woods, when free of the classroom, with friends, cousins, siblings. The children helped with whatever chores they were capable of according to their ages: Miki was 9 years old, Salme 11, Elmar 7, Maria 2, that last winter and spring on Kihnu Island. Laine was not even a glimmer in her father’s eye at this time.

In 1944, the family sailed off Kihnu Island when it was clear that the war had advanced. Initially, they went to shore on Ruhnu Island in the middle of the Baltic Ocean, to take over a Swedish farm whose owners had already fled to safety in Sweden. They had six weeks of summer farming, fresh milk from the cows, waiting to see which way the war would turn, whether the Germans would invade and conquer or whether the Russians. Father Jaan recounted how the Russians were landing on one end of the island, as our family was fleeing towards their boat at the other end, along with Jaan’s half-brother Jaan Oad [Künkra], his wife and son Leo. They scuttled father’s one ship, to prevent the enemy from taking it, and sailed to asylum in Sweden in the other ship. The women and children who had never been to sea were seasick and frightened and wailing as the waves rose as high as two story houses. The brothers were excellent sailors, managed the rough seas and winds, while also keeping a sharp look-out for enemy ships, in order to elude them if necessary, not to do losing battle with them. On landing in Sweden, their boat was confiscated by the Swedes and given up to the Russians. Initially, they were in refugee camps. Afterwards, the men found work on farms, and the school-age children attended Swedish schools. They lived in row-housing where the laundry houses and toilets were in the centre of the compound, and all around the compound, there were farmers’ fields. They worked hard, and saved enough money for passage to Canada, and to make a fresh start away from war and strife and fear of deportation to Russia, which at that time, claimed that all Estonians were citizens of the USSR!

The family emigrated to Canada on the ms/Gripsholm, arriving in Halifax in May, 1950, and travelled by train to Toronto, where a former Kihnu Islander sheltered them for the first three weeks, after which father Jaan purchased the Robbins Ave house. By this time, Miki was 16 years old and Salme 17, so they joined the workforce. At the time when Salme and Miki were in their late teens, young people congregated at corner dance halls, either played or watched soccer games, and swam at Toronto and Toronto Island beaches and played baseball and ice hockey in parks in the Toronto area. A few years later, Miki met the love of his life, his beautiful Gabrielle, whom he soon married, and with whom he had a wonderful family and family life.

Mikhel worked for National Cash Register (NCR) for 40+ years, a true career man, as a service technician. He always had great stories to tell about his work at Eaton’s, Simpson’s and the small businesses he helped with their point of sale equipment. He enjoyed meeting people and had a charming outgoing nature. He exuded good humour, kindness, generosity, was hard-working, and happy.

Mihkel’s second love, was life at the cottage on Chandos Lake. Mihkel along with his father Jaan and help from his brother Elmar (the family engineer), designed and built the cottage himself. For many years, you could find Mihkel chilling on the dock, going for his early morning canoe trips, swimming; later fishing with his children and then his grandchildren – we all learned early how to worm a hook and gut a fish Dad loved to build sandcastles on the beach and going to the marina with the kids to get the daily paper, walks to the “Chapel” and to the “sand dunes” for picnics. In the winter there was cross country skiing and skating on the frozen lake. Michele, Lisa and Thomas all learned how to canoe and drive the aluminum boat, swim to “the rock” as every summer was spent at Chandos, Mihkel coming up every week end all summer long. There was no better time for Mihkel than on Chandos, and his ashes will be scattered at the lake this summer.

He and Gabrielle travelled extensively across Canada, the US, Mexico, Europe and Asia, hiking and enjoying local foods and beverages, always meandering off the beaten path. They enjoyed arts and crafts markets and stores and galleries and museums, all the places that could inspire Gabrielle’s artwork – the places they both enjoyed immensely. When traveling, having a focus or purpose increases intake of knowledge or broadens awareness of peoples/places, their way of life.

There will be a celebration of Mihkel's life on June 25th from 2:00 - dusk (or when the last beer has been consumed) to be held at 6 Kerr Lane, Aurora, ON L4G 0E5 (Michele’s house). Please watch the no parking signs around the neighbourhood and only park on the side of the street that have no signs; the by law officers are extremely vigilant in Aurora and we don’t want anyone to get a parking ticket. All of the side streets allow parking at least on one side.