Michael Daniel Seale

03/22/1941 - 05/06/2011

SEALE,
Michael Daniel
(Age 70)

Of Coeur d'Alene passed away May 6, 2011 unexpectedly at his home. He was born March 22, 1941 in Spokane, WA to Willard "Buck" and Maxine (Thompson) Seale. Mike attended Hutton Grade School, K thru the second grade. His family moved to Diamond Lake, WA where he attended the third grade thru freshman year of high school at Newport, WA. Mike always loved his friends from Newport and Newport itself. The family moved to Coeur d'Alene starting Mike's sophomore year in high school. He became the Senior Class President at Coeur d'Alene High School. He was starting guard for the Vikings football team and was an outstanding student as well. His senior year he was appointed to West Point Military Academy. After failing the vision test, he joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Following his honorable discharge, he attended San Diego State University, North Idaho Junior College and graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.A. in business.
Mike's passion his whole life was aviation. He saved his money starting in his preteen years for flying lessons at the Coeur d'Alene Airport. He soloed at age 16 and had his private pilot's license when he was 18. Mike paid for his college expenses working at the sawmills, Potlatch and Atlas Tie. He also became a flight instructor during that time. His parents owned the Coeur d'Alene Drive In Theater where he worked in high school. After college, Mike was hired by Air American Airlines. He lived and flew in Vietnam and Laos for seven years. He flew in Alaska for three more years and then retired at age 37 due to a spinal injury that paralyzed his legs. He spent his remaining years reading, swimming, traveling, and enjoying friends and family.
Mike was a lifetime member and a member of the board of directors of the Nez Perce Trail Foundation. He was a member of the Quiet Birdman and had also been on the board of directors of the Coeur d'Alene Airport.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brother, Pat Seale of Coeur d'Alene; a niece, Toni Sue Caferro and her husband, Ed and their children, Olivia d'Alene and Nicholas Patrick of Spokane. The Caferros were his "shining pride". He loved them so much. Other survivors include several cousins and his Air America friends. Mike was a wonderful and interesting friend, brother and uncle. He had an unusual sense of humor and will be greatly missed.
The memorial service will be 3:00 P.M. Friday, May 20, 2011 at the Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. A reception will follow at the Coeur d'Alene Eagles Lodge. Please visit Mike's memorial and sign his online guestbook at " target="_blank" rel="nofollow, noindex" class="obit-text-link">www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.
YATES FUNERAL HOME, Coeur d'Alene, ID