July 7, 1977 - February 12, 2019
Michael was adopted at 6 weeks old in Alberta to loving parents John and Lynn. Nora embraced her little brother immediately and thus began a deep connection between the siblings. After living in Hinton and Edmonton, they grew up mostly in Fernie. This adventurous family also spent about three and a half years in Colombia, South America, before moving back to Fernie. In grade 9 they moved to Kelowna, and Mike made many friends and memories at Okanagan Mission Secondary. After graduating and obtaining some post-secondary education, he lived in Calgary for ten years and worked for Laird Plastics. He moved back to Kelowna in 2009 to go to school for Computer Technology, and soon after started working for what is now Telus Health. His work was invaluable at Telus and he and his wife were sent on a free trip to Montreal in 2018 for an award Gala. He was given the award for excellence a second time and would have been headed to Las Vegas in 2019.
Michael and his wife Michelle met in 2010 and quickly fell in love. Their first daughter, Chantelle, was born in 2012. She is now almost 7 and just as smart and hilarious as her father. The couple was married in 2013 in Kelowna on a beautiful day - complete with sunshine and a rainbow, surrounded by family and friends. Averie followed in 2015, right after his first diagnosis. She was a ray of sunshine in the first of what turned out to be many difficult days. The family lived in West Kelowna for the past two years, watching their kids grow up and making memories. In 2018, between Michael's treatments, they were sent on a Make-A-Wish trip to DisneyWorld. The family will cherish the memories made there for a lifetime.
His greatest legacy is the lives he touched, and the daughters he loved.
To grieve is to have loved, and so this grief will be shared by many, far and wide and deep.
Our precious boy, taken decades too soon, will forever be in our hearts.
-
The family would like to thank everyone for their incredible support and love at this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe has been created for the family. A Celebration of Life will be held for close family and friends .