Michael James Unmuth
September 22, 1950 - November 25, 2021
Obituary
Michael J. Unmuth, 71, passed away on November 25, 2021 in an adult family home with his family by his side, after a long battle with dementia.
Michael J. Unmuth was born in Seattle, Washington on September 22, 1950 to James S. and Kathleen M. Unmuth. He graduated from Evergreen High School, class of 1969. Following graduation, he began his career as a carpenter. He married Kathy (Schock) Unmuth on April 26, 1971 and settled in Seattle. Their daughter, Jody (Unmuth) Chin was welcomed into the world on December 13, 1971. Michael retired as a superintendent carpenter in 2013. Kathy and Mike celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 26. 2021.
While going to high school Mike worked the night shift at the Fisher Flour Mill in Seattle, lifting heavy wheat bags to make flour. The day after graduating from high school he began his career as a carpenter. He worked out of town (Seattle) off and on, in Georgia, the Grand Canyon, Iowa and New Mexico building apartments. In 1971 Mike and Kathy moved to Pueblo, Colorado for three months and then back to Seattle. In 1972 they moved to Denver, Colorado for three years and then again moved back to Seattle in 1975.
Through the years he pointed out all the apartments, condominiums and warehouse tilt-ups that he built in the Seattle area, as well as refurbishing the light house on Alki and the old Flight Museum (where it is today).
Mike worked for Schneider Homes for about 25 years, mainly building condos and some single-family homes. He was proud of the result he was able to present to the new homeowners. He always strived to catch the flaws before a homeowner’s walk through, so there were no items to fix on the punch list.
Mike played little league baseball when he was young. When he retired, he joined a senior group just to practice and improve his hitting skills. While in high school he rode motorcycles, enjoyed old cars and had the knowledge to fix them when they broke down. He spent many summers at his parent’s cabin in Summit Lake of Olympia, Washington. Here he created a plethora of childhood memories with the Japhet family.
He enjoyed bird hunting, but his passion was fishing in the waters of Puget Sound, West Port, Canada, Homer Alaska, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and lakes and rivers. Fishing relaxed him. He would sit in his boat for hours, waiting for that tug on the fishing line and then later talking about the “big catch” or the “one that got away”. Mike was interested in collecting items such as antique fishing lures, reels and coins. His favorite was a whale baleen from Alaska. Mike was active and took up walking 12 miles, almost every day, until he had an injury that led to his doctor advising against it.
Mike was very proud of his family and his marriage of 50 years. He was a hard worker, caring and a responsible man with years of hard-earned wisdom. Even during hard times when there was no work, he was beating the streets every day until he found a job. He would go back to the job sights until they got so tired of him, they hired him! He provided a good life for his family. He built a second home in Anacortes, Washington in 1995 for weekend retreats where he could relax or TRY to relax. He bought a fishing boat to simply fish around the San Juan Islands for hours on end!
He always believed the secret to success was to put your heart, mind and soul into even the smallest acts. He expected quality work and if not received, he expected you to be responsible and fix it until it was right! He never used a calculator in his work/home because he didn’t want to lose the ability to calculate numbers in his head.
Mike was very friendly. He had no acquaintances, only conversations, hundreds of them. Often once a conversation had been engaged, a friendship was born. As everyone knows, his greatest joy was visiting his friends and talking to them on the telephone.
From the time Mike was young and into his retirement he had boundless energy- his mind was always going a mile a minute. He would say, “It’s better to keep busy than to sit around and watch television all the time.” As a young carpenter he would run across the wood beams at work. He didn’t have a fear of heights! If he didn’t have something to do, he would go visit his friends. Mike had a feisty personality and was set in his ways, making it difficult for him to adjust to change. He was opinionated and liked a good argument because he was confident that he could win!
Curious about the world around him and how things worked, he was always asking questions. Despite being set in his ways, he did transition from a flip phone to an iPhone and was able to ask Siri all his questions, get the daily stock market report and look for coins. Mike enjoyed laughing and having fun. He rode his scooter in the Oyster Festival in Anacortes with 4,000 bikers. The bikers said the scooter was ok, but he had to get rid of his yuppie shoes!! He dressed up as a woman at Halloween for a friends Halloween party, with all the womanly details, down to nylons and women’s shoes! No one recognized him! Mike was intelligent and had a lot to say on just about anything. Kathy was often asked, “How does he know so much? Did he sit and read an encyclopedia?” No, he took the time to sit down and read the World Almanac! Problem solving for Mike was an opportunity for a challenge. He didn’t give up on something he started. He had the ability to figure out problems, find solutions and he was determined to accomplish the task.
Michael is predeceased by both of his parents, James S. and Kathleen M. Unmuth.
He is survived by his wife Kathy Unmuth, daughter Jody (Edward) Chin and grandchildren Jake and Caleb Chin of SeaTac, Washington; sister Shirley Unmuth of Española, New Mexico and brother Gerald Unmuth of Olympia, Washington.
A graveside service will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Friday of December 17, 2021 at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me,
To be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow
Of smiles, when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo
Whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times
And bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve,
To dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave behind
When life is done.
I’ll miss your laughter and stories. But…most of all….you!!
So sorry for your loss. Mike will be missed by many. We will miss you both dropping in to chat. So many memories.
Hugs to you Kathy
I only wish that I had known him more personally and much earlier especially when I found out they lived within walking distance of my house.. his mom rescued my brother from severe alcoholism.. It was through her that I knew about Mike Shirley and Jerry .. I visited with Kay The entire time of her dementia.. it saddens me to learn that Mike had to face the same battle.. my heart goes out to the whole family..
It seems so unfair to have to deal with an illness like that but I suppose it’s the same with any suffering.. I have been dealing with some medical issues myself and that’s where Mike came into the picture .. he came in to visit me frequently and I loved our conversations.. he never talked about he has many accomplishments and now after reading about his life I could see where he would have been a good friend.. he shared so many of my families interest from motorcycles to fishing.. I’m sure God has a special place for Mike and that He will say
“ well done Mike“
I have great memories of working with Mike for many years.
My condolences to your family, I have fond memories of Mike from when I lived in my grandmother’s house nextdoor to him and Kathy in seatac.
Rest in peace