Michael Joe Hodges passed away in Chicago at 6:52am on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. He was 69 years and 59 days old. Born in Peoria, Illinois on December 4, 1952, Mike was the first son of Joseph and Eloise (Essington) Hodges. He was the oldest of the MH boys, which includes Mark Edward (Nancy), Max Patrick (Nancy), Martin Craig (Regina), and Matthew Alan (Yvette). Mike had many interests but none more important than his family…especially his nieces and nephews Jamie Muller, Robert Hodges, Andrew Hodges, Benjamin Hodges, Jessica Steele, Curtis Hodges, Josee Hodges, Juell Hodges, Jazmynn Hodges, and Jaeden Hodges. Mike was a 1971 graduate of Washington Community High School. He worked for years as a business owner and independent contractor to support the Illinois State Trooper Lodges and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, and their publications. Mike was a car guy! That is if that car was a Ford Thunderbird. Over the years, he owned a number of them but nothing made him happier than to be behind the wheel of his Black 1962 T-Bird. He also was a lover of anything blue, blueish, turquoise, aquamarine, teal, or tealish. Well everything except his black jeans, and black leather vest, coat and boots. If you saw him in something other than this attire…well, Happy Easter! or Happy Memorial Day! or Merry Christmas! And that's just how he rolled. Depending on the time and place of their encounter people knew Mike as a musician, artist, performer, comedian, lobbyist, entertainer, storyteller, but most of all people knew him as a friend. Not one with deep pockets, but Mike was a friend with a big heart full of love and compassion that he was always willing to share. There are many measures of one's success but Mike's was simplified in a recent note from one of his friends: "I'm going to miss Mike. He's one of my best friends. He was always good for a laugh. Even when he was having a bad day, Mike could brighten yours. Everyone liked him! I'm so proud to say we were good friends." Services will be Monday, February 7, 2022 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington, Illinois. Visitation will be from 10am to 11am and a tribute of life to follow at 11:07am. Masks will be required. Pastor Rebecca Kirby will officiate. Burial will be held at the Glendale Cemetery in Washington at 12:04pm. We also ask if you are going to attend you wear something blue or blueish. Matter of fact, please wear something blue or blueish wherever you are next Monday! In lieu of flowers, Mike requested donations to be made to children's cancer research through the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. A donation may be dedicated in memory of Michael Hodges and directed to Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago at https://cure.pcrf-kids.org/give/231187/#!/donation/checkout.