Michael Poulin

Michael Maurice Poulin died peacefully in his home Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He spent his last days surrounded by family and friends, enjoying music, reminiscing, and holding those he loved close.

Michael was the youngest of three children born to Yvon P. and Claire A. (Gagne) Poulin, in Nashua, N.H., on Jan 2, 1972. Coming from a family with deeply rooted French Canadian family that originally hailed from Quebec, he spent his childhood in Nashua, N.H., along with older siblings, Daniel and Diane. He moved from Nashua in 1993, leaving many close friends to join his brother, Dan, with his drywall business in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Michael was a second-generation professional drywall hanger and finisher. His work has been appreciated throughout many homes and businesses in the North Idaho area. His skill was on a level that had literally been compared to art, as one former client exclaimed “His work is like that of Michael Angelo!”

He was also an amazing musician, picking up the bass that his mother had given him for Christmas as a teen, he very rarely set it down. Starting out in the band “Hit and Run,” with his brother, Dan, in his hometown before bringing his talents to North Idaho. He played venues throughout the North Idaho and Montana areas as a member of many local bands, and whether it was on a small stage at a local bar or playing in front of hundreds at the Festival at Sandpoint, he took his craft seriously.

In 2022, he returned to New Hampshire to bring his sweetheart, Melissa, on a cross-country trek back to North Idaho where they lived in Naples before moving to Bonners Ferry.

He was a devoted father to his children Jean-Paul and Simone Poulin, and stepchildren, Zachary Forbes the late Jeremy and Joshua Forbes, and Brittany Anderson. He was known as “Mon Oncle Mike” to his nieces Kiery and Kaylee Poulin and nephews Levi and Austin Norway. He made every day special, going on one adventure or another, and was such an amazing dad and uncle because he was a big kid at heart, himself.

He loved good food and developed a talent for cooking, often posting pictures of his culinary creations and entering food competitions with his children, even taking third place in a local lasagna competition.

His passions almost always included his children. Whether thrift shopping and going to garage sales in a quest to find hidden treasures, gardening, having impromptu jam sessions, or just creating beautiful traditions in the everyday, they were at his side.

He spent much of his time out in nature, taking his children hiking, going mushroom hunting with his dear friend, Teresa, and exploring the area’s beauty. He not only found beauty in the close friendships that were formed throughout his life, but he created that beauty through them as well. If you knew him well you were like family and if you weren’t family, you just didn’t know him well enough.

Michael was preceded in death by his father, Yvon Poulin; stepsons, Jeremy and Joshua Forbes; and his grandparents.

He is survived by his loving partner, Melissa Cloutier, of Bonners Ferry; children, Simone and Jean-Paul Poulin, of Sandpoint; step-daughter, Brittany (Steven) Anderson, of Spokane, Wash.; and their mother, Christine Poulin; step-son, Zachary Forbes, of Liberty Lake, Wash., and his mother, Kim Van Der Kolk. He also leaves behind his beloved mother, Claire Gagne, of Nashua, N.H.; sister, Diane Norway, also of Nashua and her sons, Levi and Austin Norway, and brother Daniel (Tammy) Poulin, of Sandpoint; and their daughters, Kiery and Kaylee Poulin.

Michael will also be missed by too many friends and family members to list here, but it is hoped that when they laugh, may they hear his laughter too, may his smile light up the moments when they need it the most, and may his heart continue to touch theirs at every memory of him.

Michael’s family is eternally grateful for all the love and support offered by the folks who cared for him during his illness; your kindness will not be forgotten.

A celebration of life will be held at The Northwoods Bar next summer, with the date to be announced.