Michael Mcfarlane

MIKE McFARLANE IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Michael Charles McFarlane, 56, of Idaho Falls, passed away January 14, 2007, at the University of Colorado Medical Center. He was born November 30, 1950, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to William Nicholas McFarlane and Glessnor Bradbury McFarlane. He grew up in Idaho Falls and attended Holy Rosary School, O. E. Bell Junior High School, and graduated from Skyline High School in 1970. He attended Idaho State University for two years. He then moved to Denver, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boise, Idaho, before returning to Idaho Falls in 1982. In 2004 he moved to Denver, Colorado. He married Kathy Arhendt in 1972 at Pocatello, Idaho, and they were later divorced. He married Diane M. White September 17, 1983, in Idaho Falls, and they were later divorced. He worked as a clothing salesman at K & G Men's Store, then was a Pharmacy Tech at Don Wilson Drug, The Prescription Center, and Hiway Drug. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and had attended Holy Rosary and Christ the King Catholic Churches when he lived in Idaho Falls. He enjoyed bowling and loved funny sitcoms and his sons’ sporting activities. Survivors include: Son: Michael C. McFarlane II of Boise, ID Son: Joshua N. McFarlane of Idaho Falls, ID Brother: Paul McFarlane of Idaho Falls, ID Brother: Tim (Dixie) McFarlane of Island Park, ID Brother: Nic (Jean) McFarlane of West Jordan, UT Brother: Doug McFarlane of Boise, ID Sister: Carrie (Bruce) Yoshida of Carmichael, CA He was preceded in death by his parents and both sets of grandparents. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2007, at Wood Funeral Home, with James Hunter officiating. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and for one hour before services Friday at Wood Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. ---------------------------------------- Condolences sent online: Marge Burggraf MargeBurg7@aol.com My thoughts & prayers are with you now & always. Mike was a joy to everyone. Always a big smile and a hug and so caring of others. He will be missed. Much love to all, Marge Burggraf Galen Hult galenhult@msn.com I liked Mike - especially that infectious grin. Sincerely, Galen Hult John and Maggie Morgan mickmatt@cableone.net We really thought a lot of Mike and enjoyed spending time with him at all the sporting events. He was always so nice and happy to be around. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike, Josh and family! David and Lora Siedenstrang Mike rescued me from the ignominy of being the new kid in the seventh grade class at Holy Rosary School, many years ago. At the end of that long first day in a foreign classroom with a scary nun, and 50 other kids who had all been schooled together for the prior six years, Mike was the only one to make the effort to introduce himself. And then, he invited me to attend the IF Angels baseball game with his family. I quickly accepted and we became running buddies throughout out teenage years. Mike and I, along with Kent Stevens and Brent Thompson, survived Holy Rosary, O.E. Bell Jr. High, and three years at Skyline High, mostly avoiding trouble, and doing the things that kids growing up in small town America did in the 60’s. Mike was easy to hang out with. He was quick to laugh, always knew the latest gossip, and was generous to a fault. I probably still owe him money for all the cokes he bought me at Scotty’s Drive In. The only time that I remember Mike being really pissed at me was at Scotty’s Drive In. I was driving my 1958 blue Volkswagen, Mike was riding shotgun and Brent and Kent were in the back. Mike had just order a giant soft-drink, two Scotty’s burgers and a large order of fries. Needing both hands to unwrap his burgers, Mike had opened the jockey-box door to hold his giant soft-drink. As I was slowly driving out of the parking lot, I had a brief lapse of good judgment and I popped the clutch of the little VW to squeal its tires . . .and the giant soft-drink flipped over into Mike’s lap, drowning his burgers and fries . . . and very nearly ending our long friendship. How do you not laugh at someone sitting in a pool of cherry-coke when you are sixteen years old ? However, only three of us saw the immediate humor of the situation . . . it took Mike a while longer. The summer before our senior year at Skyline, Mike was dating a girl named Cathy, whose best friend was a cute girl named Lora. As an accomplished matchmaker, Mike conveniently arranged for Lora and I to meet, and the four of us spent our senior year double-dating. I don’t know if it was because of Mike’s generosity, or the fact that he and Cathy didn’t like riding in the back seat of my little unheated VW, but Mike almost always borrowed his dad’s Lincoln Continental, where the back doors opened out to the front. Grand style double-dating for a bunch of high school kids! A year out of high school, Mike and Cathy married, as did Lora and I . . . yet another debt that I owe to Mike. After moving back to Texas, I didn’t often get to see Mike. I last saw him at Skyline’s 30th reunion in 2000. In many respects, it was as if the 30 years hadn’t slipped by. He still had all the latest gossip; he laughed at all of my lame jokes; and he beamed when talking about his sons. The late humorist, Art Buchwald, once commented about death that “I don’t know where I am going . . . but then I never figured out why I was here in the first place.” In Mike’s case, his purpose may have been accomplished many years ago when he comforted that scared kid at a new school. Mike was a good friend, and I will always cherish the memories of our teenage years. david@siedenstrang.com ; 512.328.8924 phone; 512.328.0085 fax; 6302 Royal Birkdale ; Austin, TX 78746 bjbybee@voigtdavis.com I was so sorry to hear about Mike, he and I go way back, as do the rest of you. I will think of him often and I will always remember the good times. I'm sorry I can't attend the services but you all will be in my prayer's. B. J. Bybee Lyle Nelson inyr2525@msn.com My brother called me tonight and told me about Mike. I knew Mike for a short time when we worked together at K-G Men's Store. I enjoyed the McFarlane family hospitality at home and in Sun Valley. Thanks and all my best to your family. Lyle Nelson Catherine Ahrendt Catherine.Rub@verizon.net I met Michael on March 16, 1969 and was smitten. His happy heart quickly won over my parents. He taught my father to play guitar, eventually giving him his first. Later he taught him to play golf and Michael would cheerfully give up an afternoon with his buddies to hit balls with my dad. That was his way, generous with everything he had to give. When he knocked on the door to pick me up for Junior Prom, he not only had a rose for me but one for my mother as well. Oh how they adored that boy, and so did I. He patiently taught me how to bowl and with the same quiet patience picked me up and dusted me off again and again when I fell trying to keep up with him on skis. When last I saw Michael he introduced me to the son who shared his name and he was so very very proud. Michael taught me how to love and how to laugh and the world is a better place because he was here. Dan Nuckols drnucks@cableone.net I was so sorry to learn of Mike's passing. He was a wonderful person and to be in his company was a true joy. We will miss him. Paul and Tim may remember days of ISU when we were there. I called Mike Reed, one of those that shared the dorm with all of us and he expresses his care and sympathy for the family as well. God Bless.. Dan Nuckols Barbara Burtenshaw raptorgal_1@yahoo.com Dear family and friends of Mike McFarlane: Sorry to hear that Mike passed away. I knew him in high school, and he was a very good person to know. Sometimes he made me laugh. I will miss his smile. Best wishes from a friend. Sincerely, -Barbara Burtenshaw-