Michael (Bullard) Valarezo, 74, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2023. Mike was born June 17, 1948, in Mt. Vernon, IL, the son of Elbert "Pete" and Marie (Ritter) Bullard. He is survived by his husband, Luigi Valarezo, whom he married in 2013. He is also survived by sister-in-law Donna Beaumont, nephew Matthew Vitek (Mary Rosales), and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved brother Gale, and his aunts Carolyn "June" Ayers, Lillian Lammers, Emma (Loren) Dawkins, and Esther Richardson. Mike grew up on family dairy farms in Wayne County, Illinois, and graduated from Fairfield Community High School in 1966. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1969. Mike, an award-winning benefit educator and communicator, enjoyed a 50-plus year career specializing in employee benefits, tax, and insurance, working for the U.S. Government as well as various benefits consulting firms. W