Mike Dyrgas

Mike was born in Canmore on October 29, 1925 where he lived and worked his entire life and passed away December 7, 2011 at the Canmore Hospital – Golden Eagle View Extended Care facility.

Mike will be sadly missed and forever remembered by Eila, his best friend and loving wife of 62 years and by his son Darrel and wife Jodie and granddaughters Parise and Destiny.

Mike was the second oldest in a family of ten children, five boys and five girls. He was predeceased by his father Frank, mother Rosie, sister Mary and brothers Joe and Tony and brother-in-law Melvin Niemi. He is survived by four sisters, Elsie, Francis, Pauline and Caroline and two brothers Frank and Leon and also his sister-in-law Elke Niemi.

Mike quit school in 1940 to help his father feed the growing family and worked at the mine till it closed in 1979 and then spent 10 years working at the Canmore Hospital.

As a young man he played hockey for the Canmore Legionaires and coached the Tiny Mite team and also helped set up the Bow Valley Riding Club. Mike worked very hard in the 1950's and 60's. After finishing his shift at the mine, he would hurry and eat his supper and then go and help the other miners install bathrooms in their homes.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Canmore Hospital, the Golden Eagle View extended care wing and to the Canmore Lodge for their compassionate care throughout the years.

A memorial celebration of Mike's life was held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 in St. Michael's Anglican Church hall with Rev. Ronald E. Jeffrey, United Church of Canada, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to remember Mike may make donations, in his memory, to the Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation, Golden Eagle View Long Term Care, 1100 Hospital Place, Canmore T1W 1N2, (www.canmorehealthfoundation.com) or alternately for his wife's love, to the Bow Valley SPCA, PO Box 8154, Canmore T1W 2T9

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.