Michael John Gulenchyn

Michael John Gulenchyn, 75, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, beloved partner, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Michael was born on December 31, 1950, to John Nick Gulenchyn and Bernice Josephine Gulenchyn, the eldest brother of three sisters. Michael graduated from Brooklyn Center High School in 1969. A highly talented guitar player, he played in multiple bands -- Why Yes, The Demarkays, The Musical Theater Company Plays Tribute to the Beatles, and, later, Animal Legacy. Michael also revered nature and was a highly curious adventurer at heart. He was a skillful outdoorsman who had an infectious love of camping, hiking, and wildlife.

During high school, Michael started his career as an electrician. Soon after, he made his way into the Minnesota film industry, making a name for himself as a top-tier gaffer, lending his talents to movies, commercials, and music videos. His long list of film credits includes The Mighty Ducks films, the Grumpy Old Men films, Fargo, A Simple Plan, Untamed Heart, Beautiful Girls, and Young Adult, among many others. Additionally, he worked on multiple Prince projects, including Graffiti Bridge, as well as other productions filmed at Paisley Park.

A true professional, Michael worked as hard as he played and was highly respected by his friends and colleagues. Whether it was music, nature, or film production, Michael was a gregarious soul who was always happy to share his knowledge with others. He was a generous mentor to everyone that he took under his wing, conveying his knowledge freely with passion and enthusiasm.

Michael is survived by his loving and devoted partner Marree Johannes, his daughter Robin Gulenchyn, his sisters Christine Stern, Wendy Delly and Barbara Kallevig, his cat Sophe, and many other family members and friends. Visitation and celebration of life services will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. as follows:

1:00 p.m. Visitation

3:00 p.m. Service

Bradshaw Funeral & Cremation Services 

3131 Minnehaha Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55406

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Michael's memory to Save the Boundary Waters at https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/.