Michael David Hirsch, 81

Michael Hirsch passed away on Nov. 14, 2021, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, surrounded by his wife, children, and extended family. Mike fought a courageous three-year battle against lung cancer, determined to live his life to the fullest extent possible.

Mike was born on Dec. 12, 1939, to Ruth (Milenky) Hirsch and George Hirsch in Jamaica, New York. In high school, Mike met his future wife, Joan (Swansinger) Hirsch, whom he married in 1962. Mike and Joan were married for over 59 years. They were true life partners who made their home in each other, even as their physical homes moved across the country, from New York to Wisconsin to Washington and finally, to Idaho. As a couple, they raised three cherished children, David, Jeanne, and Jana, along with several dogs and innumerable cats.

From 1957 to 1963, Mike served in the US Coast Guard, where he gained a lifelong passion for the outdoors and an uncommon love of sardines. After completing his service, Mike remained a lifelong learner, earning two associate's degrees, and taking classes at four different colleges throughout his life. Mike had a varied career, working as a night foreman and industrial engineer, before finding his calling as a forester.

Mike had a zest for life, and a passion for keeping active. He participated in every Bloomsday run from 1984 through 2021, and when the event had to be run virtually, he still pushed through bouts of chemo and hospital visits to walk all 12 km. Mike was an avid runner and cyclist, an expert eagle-spotter, and an enthusiastic dancer. Throughout his life, he picked up numerous hobbies, from model trains to photography to painting to line dancing.

Mike was a dedicated husband, a supportive father, and a doting grandfather. He dispensed advice when needed, teased without remorse, and took no one too seriously, least of all himself. He would be a solid rock when you needed him and could needle you out of a bad mood with his dry wit and humor.

Anyone watching Mike’s life would have learned valuable lessons: how to stay active, how to say outrageous statements with a straight face, and how to look hardship in the face and refuse to back down.

He will be missed greatly by his entire family.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and George Hirsch, and his sister, Leila Joseph. He is survived by his wife, Joan Hirsch; his children, David Hirsch, Jeanne (David) Hogberg, Jana (Kenneth) Brooks; his grandchildren, Jennifer Brooks, Michael (Baily) Sattler, Haley Hogberg, Blake Sattler, Seth Hogberg, Sidney Hogberg and Connor Brooks; and his great-granddaughter, Chloe Sattler.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID. Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Mike’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at yatesfuneralhomes.com.