Michael Lee Baughman, 83, of Indianola, passed away on March 4, 2026 at the Indianola Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home. He was born in Indianola, Iowa on February 28, 1943, the son of Charles and Evelyn Baughman.

Michael graduated from Indianola High School in 1961. He was always interested in science and in March of 1960 he built a mass spectrometer in his basement and won second prize at the Hawkeye Science Fair. He attended Iowa State University. From there he worked at WOI television and radio, television news in St. Joseph, Missouri and WHO-TV in the weather and news departments. He had various jobs in various states and also in Singapore.

He married Kay Brophy and had three children. They later divorced.

He is survived by his children, Michele, Patrick and Ryan; six grandchildren; his companion, Linda Murphy; nephews, Larry and Roger West; and cousins, Kay Wickett and Nancy Baughman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Evelyn Baughman; sister, Barbara Murphy; and his former wife, Kay.

Graveside services with inurnment will be held at a later date in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the kind and caring staff at Good Samaritan and Suncrest Hospice for their excellent care.