Michael Leon Magnant was born October 15, 1951, in Montpelier, Vermont to Leon and Therese (Coutu) Magnant.

Michael spent his first three years in Putnamville and the rest of his childhood in Worcester, Vermont. He attended school in Worchester through the 8th grade. During his elementary school years, he pitched for three years on the Montpelier Little League Baseball team. He attended Montpelier High School and, having skipped a grade in elementary school, graduated a year early with the class of 1968 at the age of 17. That year he attended Northeastern University in Boston for two years and then transferred to the University of Vermont, graduating with the class of 1972 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked in Vermont for a short while and was recruited at an Iowa State Job Fair in 1980 and moved to Des Moines. He was placed in the state health department and eventually put in charge of water quality. He spent 33 years in that department retiring at the age of 62. Michael was a voracious reader, concentrating heavily on science fiction. He was also an excellent bridge player, although with family and friends 500 was the card game of choice.

On October 18, 1991, he was united in marriage with Mary Jane Beyer in Pella, Iowa. Michael and Mary Jane made their home in Ankeny, Iowa. Together they enjoyed square dancing, and because Michael had a terrific singing voice, he was encouraged by Jim Logan to become a square dance caller. He and Mary Jane eventually started their own square dance club called the Tornado Twirlers. Once Michael retired from state government, they traveled extensively for a few years. Michael also enjoyed golfing; and in his retirement, he also volunteered for Life Serve, delivering blood to many Iowa locations. He also felt it was important to donate blood, sometimes going off his medications for a week so he was able to do so. Mary Jane died on June 7, 2013. She is greatly missed.

Michael later met Denise Redding, another square dance enthusiast, whom he married on January 15, 2017, in Chandler, Arizona. They spent all the years of their short marriage as snowbirds: living the winter months near Phoenix, Arizona; and spending the summer ones in Iowa.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Denise of Ankeny; siblings Paul and Jayne Magnant of West Glover, Vermont; Patrice and Mark Mahoney of Williston, Vermont; Charles Magnant and Hank Arenz of Isle of LaMotte, Vermont; John Magnant of Burlington, Vermont, Billy and Judy Magnant of Colchester, Vermont, Marie and Al Thomas of South Burlington, Vermont, and his aunt Joyce Coutu. These as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins will remember Michael fondly.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leon and Therese and by his first wife Mary Jane.