Michael Gillespie Templain

Michael was born on the 8th of February 1951 in Denver to Curtis J. and Mary Isma Durbin Templain. Due to his father's occupation, he attended many secondary schools from Douglas, Rawlins and Laramie, Wyoming, Baker, Oregon and graduated from Trona High School, Trona, California. Michael died December 6th, 2005 in Anchorage, Alaska where he was a Special Education teacher with the Anchorage School District. Mike graduated from Casper College, the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master's Degree in special education from Chapman University, in California. Mike taught school in Oakland, California and Spraing Academy in Moraga, California. He taught in various village schools in Alaska (Kotzebue, St. Mary's and Chevak) for the past several years, finally settling in Anchorage. Mike had many interests and an eclectic group of friends from many disciplines and occupations. He hunted, fished, did white water rafting, photography, was widely read with an interest in history and current political news. He had a real love of Irish Setter dogs. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America, the Kiwanis Organization where he had served as President in Gillette, Wyoming, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the Big Brothers organization. Mike served with the United States Army and was assigned to Camp Freedom in Germany which was the Boy Scout organization for service dependents during part of his assignment in Germany. He was honorably discharged. Mike was an accomplished cook and enjoyed preparing meals for all of his friends. When he was home in the summers and Christmas vacations he prepared many gourmet meals and always prepared extra portions for an elderly neighbor who is in fragile health. Mike had a wonderful sense of humor and biting wit. He lived a life of service to others. He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis, his brother, Patrick, his maternal and paternal grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Mary Isma Templain and his sister, Mary Bernadette (Ted) Hall, his niece, Heather and nephew, Joshua of Missouri and his uncle, John J. Durbin of Denver, several cousins and friends throughout many areas of the world.