"I and my team had the pleasure of working with Mike several times while working for a licensee company and while working on a licensed product. He was always straightforward, professional, accommodating, and excellent at his job. We will all miss working with him. None of us knew him well, and we didn't know about his battle, so we were a bit shocked to see his obituary in the paper. Having lost my grandfather to a (very long) battle with lung cancer, I am well-acquainted with this feeling. I hope everyone is alright. We're sending our support."
In loving memory of
Harold Michael Dunkle
September 24, 1962 - January 24, 2018
Mike Dunkle was born in Renton, Washington in 1962. He grew up in Enumclaw, where he played soccer, had a number of interesting high school jobs, drove the fastest car in town, and knew every state trooper by name.
Before graduating from the University of Puget Sound with dual degrees in Physics and Math, he drove heavy equipment and long-haul semis, was an EMT and volunteer fire fighter, and groomed the slopes at Alpental.
He started in the high tech industry as it took off, and after a stint certifying Intel's global fabrication facilities, Mike joined VALVE Software, where he was part of the team that created STEAM.
In addition to his passion for internet business, Mike LOVED soccer. His team was Arsenal FC. For more than 20 years he coached girls premiere teams for Cascade FC; he loved to win, and was tremendously proud of the women his players became.
After the best first date ever, Mike and Rosemary Baisch married in 2007. Their son, and the "best thing he ever did," Owen, was born in 2009. Their family had lots of adventures, most famously during their time living in Luxembourg.
Mike's mom, Barbara, "Irish Twin" sister Margaret (Jim, Christopher, Jason), and brother Richard (Shawna, Sydney, Reigan), and the entire Baisch and Hanify families will miss Uncle Dunkle, who succumbed to his 10 year fight with kidney cancer on January 24th.
The family would like to thank John Thompson, Nina Mayr and their entire teams at the SCCA & UW for their willingness to push the boundaries of medicine to extend his life.
Memorial gifts are encouraged for the Mike Dunkle Summer Research Fund at the University of Puget Sound.
A celebration will be held at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Kirkland on Friday, February 9th at 1:00 p.m.
Tributes
"Some folks have asked how to reach the right endowment at University of Puget Sound. UPS provided the following info for those interested: To make a gift, you may go here: www.pugetsound.edu/restrictedgifts. You'll want to note that the gift is being made in memory of Mike (in the "Why do you give?" box) and that it is for the "Mike Dunkle Summer Research Endowment" in the "gift information" box. For people who do not wish to make a gift online, they may do one of the following: -Mail a check made payable to University of Puget Sound and note "Dunkle Endowment" in the memo line; and send to University of Puget Sound; 1500 North Warner St; CMB # 1063; Tacoma, WA 98416. -Call Kawika Huston at 253.879.3622 to make a gift over the phone using a credit card. Once gifts are processed, UPS will acknowledge them with a letter and a receipt. UPS also will alert Rosemary of any gifts received. Thanks so much."