Mike's Story
Michael (Mike) Steven Dickens
December 13, 1993 - September 28, 2021
Mike was born and raised in Burnsville, MN. Growing up, Mike was a typical boy that loved to be mischievous and make others laugh with his jokes and goofy faces. One of his most infamous escapades was chasing his brother and friends around the yard with a shovel. When he was in middle school, he developed a love for heavy metal music. His favorite song was “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath, and Ronny James Dio was his music idol, who inspired him to learn how to play guitar. This love for heavy metal music continued as he grew older, and he frequently attended concerts and festivals with a dream of one day going on a “Heavy Metal Cruise.” Additionally, Mike earned his black belt in karate to which he used the skills to once throw his dad over a couch! Up until he graduated high school, Mike was also involved in Boy Scouts, having enjoyed going on many nature adventures with his friends. Mike graduated from Burnsville High School in 2012 at the top of his class.
Four years later, Mike graduated at the top of his class (yet again) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016 with a BS in Geographic Information Systems and Cartography. While at UW-Madison, Mike developed a love for football and hockey, buying season tickets to cheer on the Badgers every year. He also spent time volunteering with various programs: Campus Kitchens, UW-Madison’s soup kitchen program that provided food to students and the community, Habitat for Humanity of Dane County, where he organized and picked up furniture for their ReStore, and Madison Public Library, where he delivered books to small free libraries and assisted with different events. In addition, he was active in Geography Club, Gamma Theta Upsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, and Madison’s Anime Club.
Upon graduating, he began working as a Data Processor for Roadview in Madison, focusing on visual analysis using LiDAR data. He then moved to Athens, AL to work for Optimal GEO as a Geospatial Analyst. In this role, he constructed spatial datasets using programs, such as ArcGIS, to create clear imagery and functional GIS models. After a year in Alabama, Mike was asked to transfer to Optimal GEO’s St. Louis branch office where he continued his work as an analyst. He had always wanted to do more hands-on work within the field of GIS, which led him to his position as a Sensor Operator for Surdex Corporation. Mike operated the various camera systems used in different planes to obtain imagery for orthophoto projects, and eventually, he began training new Sensor Operators. On the day of his accident, he was on the plane for the purpose of training a new coworker.
Mike was the type of person to always add a witty comment and sass to conversations, leading him to obtaining the nickname “Sassypants Dickens” from his college friends. He was the friend you could always confide in, the responsible one, the supportive one, and the one to light up a room with his infectious laugh. Mike constantly put others’ needs before his own and was always around to lend a helping hand. Many people would label him quiet upon first meeting him, but after you got to know him (and maybe even got a drink or two in him), he became the life of the party. Outside of school and work, Mike enjoyed playing video games (Japanese RPGs in particular), jamming on his bass guitar, wearing sweatpants whenever he could, eating a burger with an egg on it, drinking Diet Coke, and traveling across the US and the world.
Mike’s ultimate goal in life was to create a life for himself that was stable, fun, and comfortable. He dreamed of settling down with his long-term girlfriend, Cheyenne, who he met while in college, starting a family, and finally getting that pug he’s always wanted. Mike had bought an engagement ring for Cheyenne, and the two of them were planning on getting married after she graduated graduate school in May 2022.
The Accident
On September 28, 2021, at approximately 9 am, Mike and two of his coworkers, Jay Johnson and Dominik Faciano, were killed in a work-related plane crash in Hiles, Wisconsin in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. According to a report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the crash was caused by the plane stalling due to not being able to maintain the necessary speed needed to lift. They were in the area to take aerial imagery of forest vegetation for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through the company they worked for, Surdex Corporation.
Jay Johnson (27) was a dedicated jazz musician and pilot originally from Bristol, Connecticut. He held a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Guitar Performance from Western Connecticut State University and became a certified pilot through ATP Flight School in Hartford, CT. Jay was also active in his faith and carried it through all aspects of his life. He had been working for Surdex Corporation for about a year when the accident happened.
Dominik Faciano (23) was a devoted hockey player, avid outdoorsman, and up and coming pilot from Elk Grove Village, IL. He had recently graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Aviation with a BS in Aviation Management in May 2021 with the dream of one day becoming a commercial cargo pilot. He had been working for Surdex Corporation for only 8 days when the accident happened.
Once authorities were notified of the accident, first responders arrived at the crash site to begin the long process of reaching the three in the plane. After two days and building a log bridge due to the crash location being in wetlands, the three young men were recovered. When Mike was pulled out of the plane, the medical examiner looked up at the sky and saw a cloud that looked like a wing with three feathers (as seen below). This cloud has since served the families of those in the crash and the first responders as a symbol of hope and their presence. We, as well as Jay and Dominik’s families, are eternally grateful for the dedication and support of all those involved in recovering them. On the year anniversary of the accident, we were able to honor the first responders and local people that helped during this trying time in all our lives as well as visit the crash site to plant trees in honor of Mike, Jay, and Dominik.Every year since, we have visited the crash site and the trees to honor the memory of them.
