Michael Edward Marchese

Michael Edward Marchese passed away on January 12, 2025, surrounded by his daughters, son-in-law and two of the many dogs who loved him.

Born October 24, 1942, Mike, the first of four children, grew up in Dos Palos, CA. His formative years were spent hunting birds in the grasslands, elk and deer in the Sierras and girls in high school. He was particularly handsome in his senior football photo, even though he was not #12 as his jersey suggests. He showed up late to practice and without his uniform because he and a buddy were playing hooky, out hunting pheasants from an old Buick that they drove like mad through the local cotton fields. They shot their limit despite having to stop and pull smoking cotton stalks out of the radiator before barreling back down the next row, barely making it back to school for practice. These lifelong friendships were still burning bright with phone calls full of laughter into his last days. 

After a tour in Vietnam that he didn’t much like to talk about, Mike made his way to Idaho and began his career as a phone man. His incredible work ethic and well-stickered thermos helped him be the best poleman, colorblind splicer, and warehouse manager around. You have never seen a tidier pole yard than his. His co-workers became close friends that led to long lasting comradery and shenanigans.

In his free time Mike cut enough firewood to heat all the houses of Meadows Valley for at least a couple years. He made hundreds of pounds of deer jerky for friends, family and neighbors. He picked and dried thousands of morels, gifting old nut jars full to anybody who stopped by. Every fall he hosted a rowdy hunting camp with enough cheap wine to make his Italian forefathers proud. And the freezer was always full of deer, elk, grouse and fish.

For the last seven of his 82 years, Mike lived in Stanley, Idaho, because New Meadows just wasn’t cold or snowy enough. In his typical style he gathered a whole new posse of friends, giving each one their own goofy nickname. You never knew who’d be visiting with treats, dogs, to look at guns or just for good company. 

Of all the love Mike gave and inspired, he loved his family the most, all of them. He loved his daughters without bounds and with a good dose of worry on the side which is why he always had an up-to-date weather forecast, to make sure you didn’t get caught out in it. And if you did get caught, you’d better be prepared. Do you have a sleeping bag in the car? Flashlight? Tow strap? Shovel? Jumper cables? Have you checked your oil? His girls understood his love language well and will never be caught with less than half a tank of gas. 

Mike is survived by his daughters, Amanda Marchese and Sara (Chris) Lundy, their mother Sue Marchese, his favorite sister Mary (Paul) Basso, who was in fact his favorite, along with nephews, a slew of cousins, distant relatives and so many friends. He is proceeded in death by his mother and father, Helen and Ed Marchese and his younger brothers, Dave and Jim.

Mike requested no service but will be celebrated by friends and family at small gatherings this spring, where everyone will get a HSN knife and a bag of jerky. His ashes will be spread in his favorite hunting grounds overlooking Meadows Valley, Idaho.