Michael Robert Cresina, 57
Michael Robert Cresina, 57, passed away in the comfort of his home on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 in Sandpoint, Idaho.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2021, at North Summit Church with Pastor Kyle Bostock officiating. Friends and relatives are invited.
Michael was born on June 8, 1963, in Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to William and Julia Cresina, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Frackville and attended schools in North Schuylkill School District, graduating from North Schuylkill High School in 1981. He attended vocational school and worked in the former Anthony’s Supermarket grocery store in Frackville, before enlisting in the United States Navy.
Michael served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years. He spent six years on the USS Germantown, an EN2 – Engineman, participating in Desert Storm operations. During this time, Michael was awarded the Sea Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southeast Asia Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Shellback Initiation, ESWS – Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist cert., Law Enforcement Operations Ribbon for Coastguard / USN Operations, and Battle Efficiency Ribbon. He was stationed out of the Naval Base in San Diego, California. Later he served four years as small arms and fitness instructor at the Great Lakes, Illinois, Naval Base, where he was respected by superiors, peers and recruits he trained. In this capacity, Michael was referred to by superiors as an “expert” and “sharp-shooter” in the .38 and .45, training over 15,000 recruits in small arms. He trained over 2,000 recruits in firefighting, damage control, chemical, biological, and radiological defense.
After an honorable discharge from the US Navy, Michael worked as maintenance engineer at Dean Foods in Illinois for 10 years. After a divorce, he headed west in 2008. First stop was Port Angeles, WA. He worked as a marine mechanic, and a maintenance engineer for Darigold. This was a short stint, as Idaho was where he wanted to fulfill his dream of spending time in “God’s Country” hunting and fishing. He came to Priest River, Idaho. He was a lifetime member of VFW, serving as an honor guard for Post 2920 in Priest River. He then moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, a few years later.
Michael married Jodi Parsons on August 30, 2015 in Sandpoint. They enjoyed traveling, ocean and lake fishing, hiking, huckleberry picking, mushroom hunting, and riding in the mountains of the Northwest. They had a deep and respectful love for each other. He supported and encouraged Jodi in all her endeavors. They shared many wonderful memories in their seven years together.
Michael enjoyed physical labor. It brought him joy helping his friends and neighbors in a truly selfless and serving manner. He enjoyed cooking for others, loved his animals, and loved feeding and watching the birds. He was active in AA, celebrating 14 years of continuous sobriety in August 2020, and dedicated himself to helping those in recovery. He inspired many to be better in their lives, to have faith, to never give up, and to not judge one another. He taught others about acceptance, and to always live in the moment; not fretting about the past or worrying about the future. One of his favorite bits of advice was “stay in your own canoe.”
Michael fought a hard, long, and epic battle with cancer over the last two years, to which he succumbed. He lived large, had an infectious and gregarious outgoing personality, was loved by many, and will be greatly missed.
Michael is survived by his loving wife,Jodi Parsons-Cresina of Sandpoint; one sister, Marianne Baringer and her husband Joseph E. Baringer of Lake Worth Beach, Florida; one brother, William Cresina of Kingston, Pennsylvania; a niece, Carly A. Baringer; a nephew, Brandon J. Cresina; four stepchildren, Kaitlyn, Nate, and Sheridan Lunde and Amy Bauer; and one granddaughter, Laisha Norris.
The family would like to give special thanks to Bonner Community Hospice, VA Puget Sound Medical Center, VA Spokane Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Kootenai Health, and Windrose Naturopathic Clinic. The doctors, nurses, cancer care teams, and social workers provided outstanding care beyond measure. They will never be forgotten. They will forever be appreciated.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Mike’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.