Saturday, March 4, Noon – 2 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall

— from Marcia Spees —

A memorial service to honor the life of Mike Schifsky will be held Saturday, Mar. 4 at the Odd Fellows Hall in Eastsound. Noon to 2 p.m. All are welcome.

Mike passed away on Friday, Feb. 3. His wife, Thea, relates: “On the day that Mike called me home from work to call 911, it was snowing hard, blowing, a white-out, and cold, cold, cold. The volunteers who immediately showed up were focused and professional. Their aim was to save Mike and try to get him off the island in a hurry, in a snow storm. Helicopters couldn’t fly and the medivac plane was grounded. Then we got a call from Friday Harbor: there was a tiny window in the storm and the plane was on its way — get him to the Eastsound airfield, now Those people are absolute heroes. They helped Mike. They are good people.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Mike’s name may be made to the Orcas Volunteer Firefighter and EMT Association (VF & EMTA) and/or Orcas Island Fire and Rescue (OIFR) – 45 Lavender Lane, Eastsound, WA 98245.