Mike Colasurdo
January 8, 1933 - March 13, 2024
Obituary
Tribute to Mike Colasurdo
1930-2024
My father passed away peacefully on the morning of March 13, 2024 at the age of 94. He had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the fall of 2022. During his journey of exams and radiation treatments 2023, he did not complain, often stating, “I have lived a good life.” He was brave and mentioning from time to time, “I don’t feel a thing, I have no pain.” My dad never complained about hardships––what a blessing to have that inner strength.
Dad was the middle child of three, born during the great depression to Italian immigrant Gabriele Colasurdo and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Colasurdo. He is survived by his older sister Theresa (Colasurdo) Pettit, 96 years old, and his younger brother John Colasurdo, 87 years old. The children were born in the family home built by Gabriele, located on the family chicken farm off what is now Ambaum Boulevard in Burien. He had many fond memories of his parents, regularly noting his dad was a very nice man, gifted carpenter, but never knew how to read or write. His mother was a wonderful cook, always at the stove preparing meals for the family. They always had a huge garden and plenty to eat. His formative years were an era of monetary scarcity, which was reflected across his entire life, which can be summed up as: “you better keep it, you never know when you’ll need it.”
Mike attended Mt. View Elementary School and graduated from Highline High School. He enlisted in 1948 with the Marines and served honorably in the Korean War as a flight engineer and mechanic. He later obtained a college degree with the help of the GI bill. Education was very important to my father––he became a schoolteacher, serving in public education for 30 years.
In the early sixties, he met our beautiful mother Virginia (Clark) Shultz. Virginia was born December 5, 1923 in Jacksonville, FL, and was the eldest sister of four girls. After her father passed in 1930, she grew up with her family in Georgia. She was widowed at a young age with three wonderful children, Diane, Linda, and Bobby (Deceased, 2020). My parents married and in July of 1962 welcomed a daughter together, Ann Marie Colasurdo (myself).
My dad and mom lived in our family home until he was 74 and she was 81 years of age. Together, they established a sweet home, gardened, woodworked, did a host of crafts, sewing, and managed a small business. They traveled to many parts of the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Central America.
The family home and property were sold, and Mike and Virginia moved to their new home in Olympia in September of 2004. The acre lot allowed my dad to have plenty of dirt to dig in. Raising flowers, along with 30 plus fruit trees (and of course, a large garden). Virginia passed in 2009. He continued to travel, keeping active with woodworking, reading the Wall Street Journal daily, gardening and, of course, storytelling!
At the end of his life, I believe his faith was tested, but he endured by the support and countless prayers by family and dear friends, including those of his nephew Brandt, niece Laura Lee, his son-in-law Mark, along with Father Tim from Sacred Heart Parish in Olympia, Father Tim from St. John’s in Boise, and Chaplin Kim (Hospice). His sweet neighbors, the Stanley family, were always there to support and care for him, my dad was appreciative and I am grateful for their support. In his final days, he shared with me how proud he was of his granddaughters, Elizabeth and Allison, along with Sean, Elizabeth’s husband.
My dad was always one to talk with longtime friends, neighbors, or a complete stranger over a cup of coffee. He was blessed with longevity, family and friends. Mark and I are extremely grateful for the love showered upon us by Mike and Virginia over the years. Miss you, and may you rest in peace.
Dad, I will meet you in God’s garden some day. Love you, Ann Marie.
Please join us for a funeral mass on Friday, April 5th, 10:00 a.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, located at 1028 SW 128th Street, Seattle, WA 98146. Lunch will be served immediately following service in the Parish hall. Internment will be at 1:30 p.m. at Tahoma National Cemetery––Mike will be interned with his lovely wife Virginia, “she was the best of the best.”
For the love of Education: Please consider making a donation in memory of Mike Colasurdo to St. Bernadette Catholic School. Mailing address: 1028 SW 128th Street, Seattle, WA 98146. My dad believed education to be important, and wished he would have had help with his studies and schooling, and would be happy to see others getting that support––thank you.
I Want to thank all of my fathers friends and family for their love and support. I will really miss my Sunday calls with Dad. Our lives are built on our memories and Mom and Dad are always in my thoughts and prayers. They are with the Lord now. God Bless us to join them when our time is ended in this wonderful world. Love to all
I was the neighbor of Mike’s daughter & family for years. I always smile when thinking of Mike pulling up to their house, usually the truck was loaded down with something he was bringing or had made. In the late summer he brought the most beautiful produce he’d grown and always enough to share with us. He and his wife Virginia were genuinely warm and caring people. His obituary sounded so much like my own father, a career Marine who’s 97 and now in the last part of his life. My father also never ever complains and no matter what is going on will comment, “I feel pretty lucky”. They truly were the greatest generation and I’ll cherish my memories of Mike and my deepest condolences to the family.
When I was a child Mike knew my dad from the neighborhood and used to bring over his corn stalks for our horses to munch on. I am sorry for your loss