Mike Hulen

Mike Hulen
February 19, 1925---March 18, 2013

Mike Hulen, World War II Veteran, businessman and beloved father and grandfather died on Monday, March 18 at his home in Swifton at the age of 88.

He was born in Swifton on February 19, 1925, the fourth of eight children to the late George and Frances Hulen. A child of the Depression, Mike worked with his siblings on the family’s small farm. He served our country first in the Civilian Conservation Corps as a young teenager, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. Mike served as a Gunners Mate, 2nd Class aboard the battleship USS Mississippi in the Pacific from 1942-45, where he helped liberate the Philippines and Okinawa, and took part in historic battles at Kiska, the Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands, Leyte Gulf, Peleliu, Kwajalein, Taroa, Lingayen Gulf, and what would be the last battleship-to-battleship engagement in history at the Battle of Surigao Strait. He survived Kamikaze attacks, a gun turret explosion that killed 43 shipmates, and suffered ear damage that limited his hearing in later years. He was in Tokyo Bay aboard “The Mighty Missy” when Japan formally surrendered to the Allies.

After returning home from the war, Hulen became a small business owner, beginning with a tavern and retail beverage store that would become Mike’s Liquor in 1955 and still runs today. The 67 Club, which Hulen ran in the 1950’s and 60’s hosted musicians such as Conway Twitty and The Pacers, and Mike would often tell the story of turning down Elvis Presley. Hulen later added farming and homebuilding to his business enterprise, accumulating farmland in Jackson and Lawrence counties and constructing homes in Swifton, Tuckerman, and towns in four other counties.

In 1949, Mike married the former Boyce Ann Wyatt. They had two children, Norma Jean and Anthony, and an infant son, Harry Boyce, who died soon after birth. They divorced in 1988 but remained close until his death. In recent years, Mike was comforted and cared for by companion Lana Wilson. Despite being stricken with dementia five years ago, he still experienced great joy seeing his children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Hulen was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Audist, Wilburn, and Walter Hulen; and sisters Norma Jean Hulen and Mavis Worthington. He is survived by his children-Norma Jean Hulen of Houston, Texas and Anthony Hulen of Washington, DC; grandsons Alex Jonischkies, T.J. Hulen, and Nathan Hulen; former wife Boyce Ann Hulen of Swifton; companion Lana Wilson; and sisters Ida V. Hartsell of Swifton, Mabel Morton of Little Rock, and Gertrude Cumby of Grand Prairie, Texas.

The family will hold a private service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Swifton United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.