Obituary

Michael Friedrich Louis von Schleinitz, born May 6, 1947, in Cochem, Germany, a beautiful little town on the Mosel River, to parents Hans-Jürgen & Ilse. The von Schleinitz family left Germany via ship and arrived in Canada May 13, 1956. Mike celebrated his 9^th birthday in the middle of the Atlantic but was way too seasick to enjoy the day. He then travelled with his parents and four siblings from Quebec to Edmonton – crowded together in their car which they brought from Germany. Mike sat on his brother Hans’ lap the entire trip.

There was no work in the Alberta oil fields, so Mike’s father and older brother headed to Kitimat where they found employment at Alcan. Mike stayed with his mother and other siblings in Seba Beach – a cottage intended for summer stays, not the cold Alberta winters – until January 1957, when the family reunited. They could not come before that time, as the townsite of Kitimat was just being built.

Mike attended school in Kitimat from grade 4 until he graduated in 1965. He worked at Alcan for a full year, and subsequent summers thereafter, to save money for university. He attended UBC for two years and discovered his interest in computers. In 1970, he enrolled in BCIT and earned his Diploma in Computer Programming/Systems in 1972. By this time, Mike was married to Jo-Anne and shortly thereafter purchased a home in PoCo, where they raised their two children Maureen and John.

Mike worked in his field at NDC, Inland Natural Gas/BC Gas, and MK Wong & Associates. He left the Lower Mainland for Penticton in 1992. He made a semi-retirement switch and operated a neighborhood store with his wife Jo-Anne. After 10 years he made the jump into “full retirement”.

Mike was a die-hard Habs fan! He remained loyal his whole life! Watching hockey games and football were a priority! He was also an avid reader, constantly had his next books lined up for reading. Mike loved his shelties and they loved him. He supported Jo-Anne in all her dog sports and drove all over the Valley and down to the Lower Mainland for agility trials.

Travelling was of great interest to Mike. He enjoyed several trips in Canada and USA, as well as Mexico and Germany.

Besides his loving wife Jo-Anne, Mike is survived by his daughter Maureen Williams of Edmonton, her husband Don, 3 grandchildren Cassandra, Sara, and Reed, as well as 4 great granddaughters Shifirah, Eviana, Zayda and Deja. Mike is also survived by his son John von Schleinitz of Edmonton, his wife Christina, and 2 grandchildren Natalie and Kurtis.

As well, Mike is survived by his brothers Jahn, Wulfing and Hans and nieces and nephews.

There will be no service. Mike will be interred at the Penticton Lakeview Cemetery Columbarium.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the BC Cancer Foundation or the BC Arthritis Association.