Michael Clarence Mogard

Michael Mogard, 58 years of age of Salmon, Idaho passed away on December 23, 2016 near Salmon doing what he loved doing so much, snowmobiling. He would get all excited when the first snowflakes started to fall. He was incredible on his sled, scary at times because of the places he and his friends would ride. He was always there to help others getting unstuck or fixing broken down sleds. Michael Clarence Mogard was born to Clarence "Spike" and Nancy (Beamer) Mogard on June 7, 1958 in Manhattan Beach, California. His father worked for Douglas aircraft and they lived in Torrance and Garden Grove, California before moving to Salmon in 1974 when they retired. His mother was a professional bowler and a certified teacher and as kids, Mike and his sister Leona spent many hours in a bowling establishment. When Mike was young he surprised his dad by taking the lawn mower apart and then putting it back together. He was about 3 or 4 years old. It was apparent then that he had an ability to work with anything mechanical and that is what he did most of his life. As a young child, he contracted encephalitis and the doctor came to the house every day for a week to administer medication and injections until he recovered. He went on to live as a typical boy and earned many scars from his fearless adventures. He built a jump when he was about 9 and the bicycle handle bars broke off when he landed and the post went into his chest. He loved to ride and race motorcycles, dirt bikes, snow machines and anything else that went fast. He had some mishaps and one with a motorcycle broke his hand so badly that he could never bowl again. He worked at the Salmon bowling alley keeping the pinsetters operating as a young man and was a very good bowler with instruction from his mother. Mike attended Salmon High School before leaving and eventually enlisted in the Army. He served in Germany and was stationed in Maryland. He was married and has a son Samuel Mogard who lives in Colorado near his mother Debra Stecher. He eventually moved back to Salmon and worked for Morgan Cycle Sales as a mechanic. He improved an idea for vinyl skins to be put over the metal skis on snow machines that helped them glide over snow more smoothly. He left Salmon once again and worked as a machinist for a company in Spokane, Washington. Michael met his wife Doris in 2009; they were married on October 14, 2010 in Salmon. He loved playing pool and was on the Lantern Bar Pool Team for 8 years. He was an excellent pool player and his team scored first place in the pool tournaments often with his help. Another hobby was putting remote control airplanes together. He loved to watch them fly. In 2014, he took over CT Express and renamed it Express Lube. He stayed busy until the building sold in October of 2016. Michael was so talented when it came to rebuilding motors and transmissions. He fixed computers, backhoes, boats, motorcycles', cars and anything that needed upholstery. He can be described as a very unique man with a heart of gold that would help anyone with a problem, multi-talented and fearless. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and the goofy things that he did. He is survived by his wife Doris Mogard of Salmon; stepdaughter Geneva Salo of Salmon, son Samuel Mogard of Colorado; sisters Leona (Bob) Gibbs of Salmon, Nancy Lee Mosca of Las Vegas, Nevada; brother Don Mogard of Florida; nephews Albert Gibbs of Fairbanks, Alaska, Cody Gibbs of Springfield, Oregon, Dan Brown of Salt Lake City, Utah, niece Stacie Mosca of Las Vegas, Nevada; and his pets: Shimmer, Emmy, Suzie Q and Putty. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the spring with Military Honors. Arrangements are under the direction of the Jones & Casey Funeral Home of Salmon, Idaho. www.jonesandcaseyfh.com