David Michael “Mike” Jordan, of Lake Junaluska, NC passed away on June 10th, 2026. Mike was born on August 9, 1947, the youngest of four children of the late Frank and Frances Jordan. At a very young age, he went to many Duke football games with his parents and their friends, and his early dreams were to play football at Duke. However, when he got to RJ Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem and was still small, his dreams required adjusting, and he found his sport: wrestling. He wrestled at Duke University, capturing an ACC Championship in 1969 in the 123-lb weight class. While in undergraduate school at Duke he attended a life-changing Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conference in Arkansas, which led to his call to the ministry. After graduating from Duke, he served as assistant coach for three years there while earning his master’s degree at Duke Divinity School. He became a Methodist minister in the Western North Carolina Conference, where he served churches for 42 years.

Even though Mike’s family moved often while his father served Methodist churches in the Western NC Conference, he returned with his family to Lake Junaluska every summer and there made many dear, lifelong friends. He always considered Lake Junaluska home. During summers in high school and college, Mike was a lifeguard at Lake Junaluska, where he also taught swimming lessons and used his vocal abilities to loudly scream, “Don’t run!” until his mother heard him from their house far up the hill and instructed him to lower the volume.

The summer after graduating, while serving on Duke Endowment at Camp Tekoa in Hendersonville, Mike met the love of his life, Margaret Parker Jordan. Mike and Margaret were married in 1972 and had three daughters: Betsy, Ginny, and Katherine. Mike served United Methodist churches in the Western North Carolina Conference for over forty years, including in North Wilkesboro, Highlands, West Jefferson, Gibsonville, Statesville, Asheboro, Reidsville, Brevard, and Canton, NC. Over the course of his lifetime, he shepherded congregants through all phases of life, officiating hundreds of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funerals. He always wrote his sermons on yellow legal pads, never bothering to learn the complications of modern technology. He infused humor in everything he did, telling jokes that were often puns that elicited groans from many. Following the example of his mentor, John Christy, he visited in the homes of hundreds of parishioners, forming opportunities for caring, friendship, and personal ministry. He worked with the youth groups in every church and often took them to minister to those with developmental disabilities at Murdoch Center, where the groups also attended Duke games and slept in Duke Chapel.

Mike was a wonderful minister and great counselor to all of his parishioners. He never met a stranger, had an incredible sense of humor, and was an uplifting, caring, and positive person. In addition to his career in ministry, Mike always volunteered at local high schools in the towns where he lived. He coached many young men throughout his time as a volunteer wrestling coach. He was inducted into both the RJ Reynolds High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Mike retired in 2013 to Lake Junaluska, his favorite place on earth. After retiring, he and Margaret traveled around the United States and the world to sightsee and visit their children. Mike loved the Lord, his family, people, spending time in Lake Junaluska, and all things Duke.  He was a great father and grandfather to his daughters and grandchildren.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Frances Jordan, his brothers, Frank Jordan, Jr. and Robert “Bob” Jordan (Dee), and a newborn grandson.

Mike is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Margaret Parker Jordan; his sister, Janet Jordan Chase (Pat); his three daughters: Betsy Jordan-Bell (Andy), Ginny Jordan (Marty), and Katherine Schadler Jordan (Steve); and eight grandchildren: Connor, Ellie, Anneliese, Caroline, Everett, Celeste, Layla and Dahlia. He is also survived by his three sisters-in-law, Dee Jordan, Martha Moore (Gerald) and Jacqueline Pilcher, many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.

Mike kept his faith even through the fog of dementia. One evening when a Hospice nurse asked him what was most important to him, he replied, “To be a person of Christ.” Mike was fortunate to have special care in the last months of life from Autumn Care Nursing Home, Four Seasons Hospice, and the exceptional care of his friend and caregiver, Steve Berwager, who enabled him to find enjoyment in those difficult times, to feel safe and comfortable, and to retain his dignity. Steve was a gift from God.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. at the Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska. The family invites attendees to wear Duke colors in memory of Mike. A time of fellowship will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lake Junaluska Assembly, 759 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, NC, 28745.

The care of Mr. Jordan is handled by Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville