Michael Scheele

Michael Jean Scheele Died: December 6, 2010 Michael Scheele, an accomplished serial entrepreneur and fly fisherman, died Monday morning at his home in San Francisco, CA. He was 47. Mike died at his home in his sleep. He had been looking forward to slowing down and spending more time fishing and golfing, when he passed unexpectedly. At last count, Mike had started five telecom companies. He was looking forward to one last start-up before retiring to the mountains to pursue his love of the outdoors. Some of Mikes companies included New Global Telecom (now owned by Comcast), Infiniroute and Talk-free. Mike was a driven and creative telecom entrepreneur who was constantly thinking of new ideas and ways to remove the friction in the pricing of telecommunication services. Mike got his start in the telecom business working for GTE after graduating from the University of Kansas in 1985. He soon migrated to San Francisco when GTE asked him to work for their new business, SPRINT. That is where he met the love of his life Joi. Mike worked in marketing and sales during his career at Sprint. After leaving Sprint, he worked for Coopers & Lybrand, performing consulting work for telecommunications companies. After leaving Coopers, Mike started his first company, a telecom consulting business, where his entrepreneurial career took off. In addition to his business skills and love of fishing, Mike loved to travel. He combined the travel with the fishing to visit exotic places such as Belize, Argentina, South Africa, Alaska and the Galapagos Islands. Mike always practiced catch and release fishing with fish species whose populations were threatened. His motto was, if you want to eat fish, go to the fish market. Mike was an avid art collector who owned one of the worlds foremost collections of British Victorian Fairy paintings. His collection travels the world for gallery exhibitions. Mike was a great friend and father to his children. He loved spending time with his family in Lake Tahoe, taking his son fishing and his daughter to the pool and mini golf. In the winter, Mike could be found on the slopes of Diamond Peak snow boarding with Nicholas and Natalie, encouraging them to go faster and make one more run. Mike was born on June 26, 1963 in Overland Park, KS to Robert and Janet Scheele. He was the oldest of three children. He is survived by his wife Joi, his children Nicholas 14, Natalie 10, his brother Eric and sister Alison Hanna and parents Robert and Janet. The visitation will be held on Thursday, December 9, from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy-OHara, Geary Blvd. at 10th Ave, in S. F.. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 11:30 AM at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Bush St. at Steiner St.in San Francisco. Donations can be made in Mikes honor to Trout Unlimited, National Office, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22209. McAVOY O'HARA CO 415-668-0077