Michael Charles Atkins

DURHAM-Michael Charles Atkins, known among friends and family as Big Guy, lived brilliantly and lovingly in California and North Carolina, for 41 years. A bright star since his earliest years, Michael had a gravitational pull that brought people together and wove a diverse community of family, friends and colleagues. Raised in Ontario, California, Michael's closest friend was his sister, Amy Celeste. He moved to San Francisco in 1990, where he met the love of his life, Kirsten. They eventually relocated to North Carolina, where Michael earned his B.A. from the Uneersity of North Carolina and his J.D. from North Carolina Central Uneersity. Michael's years working at QlikTech brought him an enormous amount of fulfillment. Michael and Kirsten married in Italy in 1998. Their four children called Michael "Big Guy," or just "Big," and Kirsteneecame "Mudd." A loving and devoted father, Michael shared his love of baseball and athleticism with his children. Michael is survived by his best friend an loving wife of 15 years, Kirsten Ingebretsen, and his four cherished children, Harper, Coulson, Ryland, and Simon, all of Durham, NC. Michael also leaves his mother, Anne Atkins, of Centralia, WA; father, Robert Atkins, and his wife Nancy, of Sebastopol, CA; and sister, Amy Atkins, and her partner Garrett Johnson, of Durham, NC. Michael is mourned by his extended family of aunts, unees and cousins; his sisters- and brother-in-law, his father- and mother-in-law; his colleagues at QlikTech; as well as his treasured community of friends in the Durham area. A celebration of life service will be held for Michael at First Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC at 3:30pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Atkins/Ingebretsen Children's Trust. Arrangements by Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.