Michael Allen Wirfs

November 27th, 1936 – September 29th, 2026

Mike was born in Newberg, Oregon, the only child of Elsie Marie (Reynolds) Freel. They later moved to Carlton, Oregon where he was adopted by Harold Wirfs. Mike attended schools in Hillsboro, Oregon. He was a Boy Scout and traveled across the United States and Canada by train in 1950 to attend the BSA International Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where President Harry S. Truman and General Dwight Eisenhower spoke to the 50,000 scouts in attendance. Mike graduated from Hillsboro High in 1955. As a HilHi Spartan he played football and lettered in wrestling.

In 1956 Mike joined the Navy and trained at Treasure Island to become an electronics technician. He was assigned to the USS Vandivier in Newport, Rhode Island. In December of 1956 he married his high school sweetheart, Marlene Verboort, and they both returned to Newport. Marlene and Mike had two children together, Lesli and Steven, before later divorcing in 1963. The Vandivier served along the Atlantic Ocean seaboard and operated out of Newport, Rhode Island. Her duties consisted solely of patrols off the coast as a seagoing extension of the Distant Early Warning (DEW Line) system during the height of the Cold War. She cruised on station for periods of approximately two weeks in duration while her radar equipment scanned the horizon for any airborne intruders—missiles or planes. Mike was instrumental in keeping these systems operational for our country. He was honorably discharged in 1960.

In February 1960 he went to work for Remington Rand-Univac (Sperry-Univac; Unisys) in Portland. In August he was transferred to Klamath Falls, Oregon where he maintained the computers for the US Air Force. He lived there for 12 years and married Lynn Fristoe in 1965. He was later transferred to Anchorage, Alaska to maintain the computers for Elmendorf AFB. In 1975, much to his chagrin, Unisys sent him to Sunnyvale, California. Finally, in 1977 he transferred to the Tri-Cities, Washington and worked in the Federal Building for many years. During this time Mike and Lynn were blessed with their son Matthew in 1980. Mike then retired from Unisys in 1993 and continued to work for several government contractors. He finished his career with Baker Produce maintaining their computer systems when he retired for the last time in 2003.

Mike’s wife, Lynn, passed away in 2008. Subsequently he married Phyllis Rumbelow in 2010.

Mike was dedicated to his family and participated in the annual family reunion, which was held for over 75 years, and partook in the cribbage tournament that he recently won and had the grand honor of bragging rights and keeping the trophy for a year.

Mike is survived by his spouse, Phyllis, daughter Lesli (Bob) Dennis of Grand Coulee, Washington, and sons Steven (Lynda) of Ripon, California and Matthew of Kennewick, Washington. Five granddaughters and one grandson, 6 great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins survive him. He is preceded in death by his mother Elsie Freel.

Graveside services at Einan’s Sunset Gardens on Oct. 7, 2026 followed by a reception for family and friends at Einan’s Event Center.

Memorial contributions in his memory can be made to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy.