Michael F. Dugan
Mike was born March 17, 1949, to Frank and Margaret Dugan in Hoboken, New Jersey. He passed away on Nov. 21, 2019.
Mike’s father was in the United States Air Force, and Mike spent his younger years moving from base to base until his father retired, moving the family from Travis Air Force in California back to New Jersey in 1964. Mike graduated first in his class at Mater Dei Catholic High School, where he excelled in everything that he did. Not long after graduating high school, the warmer West Coast weather was calling his name, and Mike moved back to California. Mike was an expert pool player, winning many tournaments, which gave him the opportunity to buy his own pool/card room bar, Cisco’s.
Mike married Lynn Parise, the love of his life, on JAN. 28, 1978, and they had two children, Kevin and Katie. In 1983, Mike moved the family to Clark Fork, Idaho, where he and Lynn both started working for the U.S. Forest Service. Mike started at the Coeur d’Alene Nursery and the Dry Creek seed orchard and then moved to the trails and fire crew out of Sandpoint until 1999 when they moved up to the Priest Lake Ranger Station.
As a long-time temporary employee, Mike became a “jack of all trades” and would do whatever type of job necessary to support the Forest Service, but he found his niche in fire. He was part of multiple Region 1 incident management teams in a lead logistics position. He worked with the IMTs on wildfires, hurricanes, the Columbia Space Shuttle recovery, and the BP Oil Spill. His skills were also in high demand by other response organizations such as FEMA and agencies in several states for other natural disasters. His passion and dedication though were always to the firefighters and responders on the ground by doing whatever it would take to support them, even if it meant working all night to provide whatever they needed. When Mike wasn’t working, he loved being with his family.
He and his wife, Lynn, would travel as much as they could and enjoyed exploring together and loved just sitting on a beach somewhere listening to the ocean. Mike’s life was changed for better in 2006, when Jack, his only grandchild was born. Jack was Mike’s “little buddy” and they talked often, mostly Jack would have to teach his grandpa the latest and greatest tech thing.
Mike was an avid sports fan, may it be cheering for his local teams, the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Montana Grizzles; being a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and Boston Celtics; or being the No. 1 fan of the Oakland Raiders, where his loyalty truly showed!
Mike is preceded by his father, Frank; mother Margaret; brothers Kevin and Thomas; and wife Lynn. He is survived by his sister, Maggie; brother Terry (Gail); son Kevin (Sara); grandson Jack; daughter Katie (Brian); and nieces Erin and Kelly.
A celebration of Mike’s life will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at 12 p.m. at the Priest Lake Elementary, 28047 Highway 57 Priest Lake, Idaho, followed by an open house gathering at Millie’s, 288441 Highway 57, Priest Lake, Idaho.
The family has asked in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Priest Lake Memory Garden P.O. Box 32 Coolin, ID 83821
Sherman-Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Priest River is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at shermancampbell.com.