Michael E. Baskin, 72, of Perryville, passed away March 22, 2026, following a brief illness.
He was born September 12, 1953, in Murphysboro, Illinois, to George O. and Lola M. (Meininger) Baskin.
Mike grew up in southern Illinois and attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the service, he worked for Menard Correctional Center in Chester, eventually retiring to pursue his lifelong hobby of woodworking and carpentry.
He later returned to service as a member of the Army National Guard, retiring as a captain. He designed and built three homes with the help of his family and was a passionate collector of antiques and rare items. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture, film, television and baseball, he enjoyed conversations about both the old and the new while showing off his latest tool or antique.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Kay; children, Tim (Heather) Baskin of Perryville, and Katherine Baskin and Peter Habja of Stockholm, Sweden; brother, Steve Baskin of Goreville, Illinois; and two grandchildren, Scout and Lev.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2026, at Brass & Bone in Perryville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
