Michael A. "Mike" Callander, 39, of Perry Township, Clarion County, died at 12:50 p.m. Monday at United Community Hospital in Grove City after a long illness.

Born Dec. 16, 1965, in Butler, he was the son of Larry R. and Charlotte E. Jordan Callander.

He was a 1983 graduate of Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School in Foxburg, where he had been a member of the football and track teams. He then graduated from the Ohio Diesel Technical School in Cleveland.

Mr. Callander then was a mechanic at the Ralph Dittman Trucking Co. of Bruin. He later became a diesel technician at Hunter's Truck Sales in Eau Claire. Over the 16 years he was with Hunter's, he served as shop foreman at its Clearfield operation and then returned to Eau Claire as assistant shop foreman.

In his early years, he was a member of the former Dutch Hill Church of God in Perry Township. He was a current member of the First Presbyterian Church of Parker, where he had been a trustee and belonged to the choir. He also played softball for the Park Hill Church of God team at West Freedom. He was a member of Parker City-Allegheny Valley F&AM Lodge 521 of Parker and the New Castle Consistory.

From his youth, he enjoyed going camping with his grandparents and parents and that hobby continued with his own family until his health no longer permitted. He was an avid trapper and hunter and enjoyed owning and riding horses. He was a former member of the Pine Hollow Rod and Gun Club in Perry Township.

Surviving are his wife, Kimberly D. O'Neil Callander, whom he married Dec. 10, 1994; two daughters, Kylene D. "Kylee" and Michaela B. Callander, both at home; his parents of Perry Township; a sister, Mary Rothen and her husband, Eric, of Emlenton; a brother, Mark Todd Callander and his wife, Angie, of Greenville; his maternal grandmother, Ione Jordan of Perry Township; paternal grandparents: Ronel and Ellen Callander of Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation of Sligo; and his mother-in-law, Harriet O'Neil of Parker. Also surviving are nieces, nephews and cousins.

<b>CALLANDER</B> - Friends of Michael A. "Mike" Callander, who died Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at H. JACK BUZARD FUNERAL HOME, Wayne Street. Parker. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Parker with the Rev. Richard Anschutz officiating. Burial will be at Parker Presbyterian Cemetery.Members of Parker City-Allegheny Valley F&AM Lodge 521 will hold memorial services at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Furnace Fund, Presbyterian Church, Parker, PA 16049.