Michael H. Sketch, Sr., M.D.

Michael H. Sketch, Sr., M.D. 

June 25, 1931 – March 10, 2025

Michael H. Sketch was born and baptized in Paris. His mother was French and his father was English. They moved to England when he was quite young and he was raised and received his primary education there. After grammar school, he worked on a farm leading him to the Chadacre Agricultural Institute where he received first place prize in both animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. Seeking adventure, he journeyed to America via third class passage on the Queen Elizabeth I. He enjoyed entertaining the passengers with his magician skills. (The magician skills came in very handy to supplement his income while in college as well as a wonderful way to bond with his kids and his grandkids.) After arriving in America, he began work on the farm of Charles and Marge Everest in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and was astounded by the difference in agricultural techniques in America.

In 1954, he was drafted into the US Army for a period of 2 years, most of which was spent in Germany. When he was discharged in 1956, he had attained the rank of Corporal and had become a US citizen.

Prior to being drafted, he met Nancy Wilcox of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who he was married to in 1956 until her passing in 2011. They settled in Omaha, where he entered Creighton University and graduated in 1959 with a double major in Biology and Philosophy. He then attended Creighton Medical School receiving his MD degree in 1963. Their 3 oldest children, Mike, Peter and Sarah, were born during that time. Two more children, Chris and Martin, were born during the completion of his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Cardiology. He joined the faculty of Creighton University School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology in 1970. He often said that none of that could have happened if it were not for Nancy. In 1977, he was awarded a Professorship in Medicine, and in 1978 was appointed to the position of Director of the Division of Cardiology until 1996 when he retired and was promoted to Professor Emeritus of Medicine.

He was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society, a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Society. He served as President of the Nebraska Affiliate of the American Heart Association and the Nebraska Cardiovascular Society. He served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology as well as the Board of Trustees for this organization. He served on a number of editorial boards including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and ACCEL.

He was a lector and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at Christ the King Parish for ten years. He served on the Advisory Board of the Pine Ridge Indian Mission from 1990-1994. He was a member of the Omaha Archbishop’s Educational Development Committee from 1990- 1997. He also served on the Omaha Archdiocese Education Finance Committee, and the Roncalli High School Board of Education and their Finance Committee. He was also quite talented in the art of photography which created very beautiful memories for all the family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred and Myriam Sketch; wife, Nancy; brothers, Rev. Anthony Sketch and Francis Sketch. Michael remarried after the death of Nancy and is survived by his wife, Jane Strattan. He is also survived by his children: Michael Jr., M.D and wife, Beth, Peter and wife, Lyn, Sarah Pattison and husband, Charlie, Chris and wife, Jill, Martin and wife, Cindy; 13 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, as well as grand-nieces and nephews. He also enjoyed spending time with Jane’s children: Morgan and wife, Julie, Sara, Amy and husband, Phil, and Molly and husband, Collin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Institute of Priestly Formation   https://priestlyformation.org/

or KVSS Radio. https://spiritcatholicradio.com/

VISITATION: Monday, March 17, 2025, at 5:00-7:00PM with a VIGIL SERVICE to follow at 7:00PM, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL:  Tuesday, March 18 at 10:30AM, St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 11802 Pacific Street, Omaha.

Interment: Resurrection Cemetery

To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass visit www.stroberts.com and click on livestream tab.

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com