John Michael (Mike) Surplus passed away July 19 after a long and courageous fight with cancer.  One in which cancer wasn’t even prepared to handle.

Mike was born Sept. 22, 1957, in San Bernardino, Calif., to John and Charlene Surplus.

Mike moved with his family to John Day around the age of 5, and it became his home for the remainder of his youth. During his time at Grant Union High School, he was a standout athlete in football, basketball and baseball. His senior year he was tabbed as the best basketball player in the state of Oregon. If you knew Mike, he would talk about that state championship game of ’76 against the Burns Hilanders often!  He graduated in 1976 and went on to play basketball at Eastern Oregon University for the next two years.

Between the years of 1979 and 1984, Mike and Tami welcomed their two daughters, Kali and Sheena, and resided in Burns. Mike left his job logging in John Day to take a role at Dalton’s Distributing. The couple spent many years in Burns raising their daughters and becoming a part of a community he loved so much. Mike continued to live in Burns, with a few side stops in Bend and Boise up until diagnoses when he moved to Pullman, Wash., to be with his daughter Kali and her family. The group then relocated to Vancouver, Wash., to be closer to Sheena as well. These years proved to be some of the best in his life, lots of family trips, memories and good conversations were had.

Mike was grateful to his good friends that he spoke with even in the hardest of times. He was the hardest worker you could ever imagine and would hang his hat on that every day.  He loved his family with all his heart which is evident in any picture you see. His big smile and unwavering loyalty will be missed greatly by all that had the chance to cross paths with him.

Mike is survived by his daughters, Kali Gesser and Sheena Raffaele; sons-in-law, Jason Gesser and Eddie Raffaele; nephew, Jay Trost; and grandchildren, Jordyn Gesser (17), Kolten Gesser (13), Kruz Gesser (7), and London Raffaele (3).

Per his request, there will be no service. The guy we call “Popi” will be laid to rest in his favorite place in the world, the islands of Hawaii.