Obituary - Michael W. Gormsen

Michael 'Mike' William Gormsen

Michael "Mike" William Gormsen, 71, passed away Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, of complications from a stroke at his Pullman home, surrounded by his family.

Mike was born May 14, 1940, to Harold and Annabelle (Johnson) Gormsen in Moscow. He moved from Moscow to Yakima during elementary school and graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1958. Following graduation, Mike and his father Harold moved their plumbing business to Pullman.

Mike was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1962. He spent one and a half years as a company clerk and was awarded the Good Conduct medal. He was also a rifle sharpshooter. Mike received his honorable discharge with a sergeant ranking in 1968. Following his discharge, Mike went back to working at the family plumbing business and in 1981 he bought out his father and ran the business by himself. He enjoyed working in the plumbing business and became close friends with many of his clients. Mike also especially enjoyed working at the fraternities and sororities on campus.

Michael married July 5, 1977, in Pullman. They have made their home in Pullman ever since. Together they enjoyed supporting Cougar athletics, especially baseball, football, basketball and volleyball. Mike enjoyed a particularly close relationship with WSU baseball coach Bobo Brayton because he was his high school football coach at Eisenhower. During the 1980s and 1990s, Gormsen Plumbing sponsored men's and women's softball teams; though he did not play, he truly enjoyed watching.

Mike and his wife became actively involved in Trinity Lutheran Church in 2000. They enjoyed going to retreats and gatherings with the many friends they made there. They enjoyed spending their time at their cabin at Hawley's Landing on Lake Chatcolet in Idaho, where they loved to go hiking and bird watching. After retirement, they loved to pack up the RV with their dogs and travel back east, through the southwest and Pacific Northwest. His favorites were Montana, Wyoming and the Oregon coast.

Mike is survived by his wife at their Pullman home; his sister of Pasco; half-brother of Kennewick; nephew of Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; and his niece, of Basin City, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Buzz Patterson.

A memorial service celebrating Mike's life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1300 N.E. Lybecker St., in Pullman.

The family suggests donations be made to the Whitman County Humane Society or Pullman Child Welfare, in both of which Michael was very actively involved as a volunteer and supporter.

Kimball Funeral Home is caring for the family. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com.

Lewiston Tribune, October 10, 2011, p. 4C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock