Michael Jacob Tauriainen

1945 - 2025

Michael Jacob "Mike" Tauriainen, born March 30, 1945, in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania died on September 22, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska with his youngest daughter holding his hand. He was surrounded by love near and far. In March, Mike celebrated his 80th birthday at a raucous party at his lake home - standing room only, five cakes, and nine dubiously tuneful renditions of the birthday song. Mike loved a lively family gathering.
Mike was the first-born son of Arthur and Meimi Tauriainen. In 1959, his family drove up the Alcan from Michigan to homestead on Goode Lake in Nikiski. At 16, he engineered the family road, Tauriainen Trail. The Homestead is where all of his favorite gatherings took place; his favorite people, way too much food, always a sauna and a beer to share. He was very proud of his Finnish heritage. Prone to being slightly stubborn, his family teased him, "You can always tell a Finn, but you can't tell him much!"
Mike graduated from Kenai High School in 1963, attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, obtaining his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and Masters in Arctic Ice Engineering. There he met Kay, and they married at Fairbanks Lutheran Church on May 26, 1967. Mike worked in UAF's Engineering department and played basketball on the Nanook squad. He was a researcher on the SS Manhattan, as it made the historic first crossing of the Northwest Passage. In 1973, the family moved to Soldotna and Mike opened Tauriainen Engineering and Testing, with Kay by his side. He engineered many local projects, and they ran the business successfully for 45 years until retiring.
Mike had a strong faith in God and attended Christ Lutheran Church and Peninsula Bible Fellowship. Community oriented, he supported organizations that made the community a better place. He served on the board for Alaska Christian College and the New Hope Counseling Center. He was one of the earliest members of the Soldotna Rotary Club; he loved bringing guests, especially his daughters, beaming during the introduction and "happy dollars."  He started the Empty Stocking Fund which raises funds for families in need at Christmas time. He was humbled years later when the club honored him, renaming it The Mike Tauriainen Empty Stocking Fund. Giving out Rotary roses to people he loved and appreciated made him smile. In 1985, he volunteered on a mission to Zimbabwe with Alaska Cares for Africa Now, through World Vision. He served on the AK State Medical Board, Kenai Peninsula School Board, and was a state delegate for the National Republican Party. In 2000, he was recognized by the national committee as AK Republican of the Year. 
Family was most important to Mike. He adored his wife Kay throughout their 58 years of marriage, always looking forward to their next travel adventure. His daughters and grandchildren were his absolute pride and joy. He never missed a sporting event for his daughters and even during dementia, he was enthusiastic about his grandchildren's games and rarely missed one. He jumped at every opportunity to have fun with them, in any weather - fishing, skiing, sledding, skating, building snowmen, saunas, splitting wood, building things, tapping birch sap, walks, reading, playing on the floor, sharing food, picking berries and gardening. Garden harvest with Pappa meant apples, carrots, potatoes and lots of rhubarb for his favorite dessert of all time, homemade rhubarb crisp. 
Mike loved Alaska, appreciating its beauty and grandeur. He had a knack for finding joy, a quick and genuine smile and was known for his great hugs. He was full of life with a witty, dry sense of humor. He valued integrity, loyalty, honesty, dependability, responsibility and hard work. His favorite sport was basketball and in 2019, he traveled to Finland to play in an old man's league with his dear friend, Fred Crowell. 
Flying was Mike's passion; happiest when his floatplane was parked at his lakefront home and he could hop in anytime and go flying. "It's a great day to fly!" He took his grandkids as often as he could and inspired his eldest grandson to pursue a career in aviation.     
Mike is survived by his wife, Barbara Carol "Kay" Lindberg Tauriainen, his daughters Julie (Travis Stubblefield) Tauriainen, Wendy (Matt) Martello, Lyndi (Michael) Miller, and grandchildren Xander, Ellsi, Maci and Jack; sister Carol (Rand) Tauriainen-Ernst, brother Carl Tauriainen, sister-in-law Jan (Dan) Bollerud; nearly countless nieces, nephews, and cousins; and an extended family, including friends he considered family, who will love and miss him forever.  Mike was preceded in death by his parents Art and Mim Tauriainen, and brothers Glenn Tauriainen and Steve Tauriainen.
Mike made one last, jubilant flight over the Homestead, en route to his Heavenly Home - a flight he shared with his beloved cousin, Ray Tauriainen, who also died in the early morning hours of the same day. Therefore, the family will gather to honor them together at Nikiski Middle/High School Auditorium on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Mike's name to: Alaska Christian College, The Mike Tauriainen Empty Stocking Fund or a charity of your choosing that does meaningful work and brings you joy.