Michael "Mike" F. Obergottsberger

Michael “Mike” F. Obergottsberger, age 57, passed away at home with family in the early hours of October 31, 2024. He and his family received invaluable guidance and care from Whatcom Hospice. 

Mike was born March 8, 1967, in Everett, WA to parents Othmar and Laurie Obergottsberger. He grew up on Bainbridge Island and graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in 1985. Growing up, Mike played all sports. And he didn’t just play them, but he studied them. Most of all he loved football and had many stories of his time as quarterback. The only thing he loved more than football, was WSU Cougar football. Mike was a DIE HARD COUG! 

Mike attended Western Washington University, where he studied athletic training. At WWU he competed on the men’s rowing team. Almost as much as he loved football, he loved studying the art and science of the mechanics of rowing, as well as the strategic plan for a winning race. He went on to train at the Olympic training center for a time. He later coached the WWU women’s novice team. Mike joined the Coast Guard in 1990. He graduated boot camp top of his class and was offered his choice of stations. He quickly chose Kauai, HI. Mike had so many stories and memories of his time in the Coast Guard and living in Hawaii. This time was cut short following a severe injury to his back when he was on a call during a storm, to assist a disabled fishing vessel. Forevermore, Hawaii was one of the places he was most at peace. 

He returned to Bellingham and started work at Bellingham Physical Therapy. Here he met his wife, Lisa. He will tell you it was “love at first sight.” He moved to Denver, CO with Lisa when she went to school. They were married June 1995. They lived in Greenbank on Whidbey Island, before moving back to Bellingham and ultimately Ferndale. There they raised/are raising their three children. Mike loved working as an athletic trainer, first at Bellingham Physical Therapy, and later at Excel Physical Therapy, which he opened and ran with Lisa for 18 years. 

Mike lived to serve his community. He held jobs at Bellingham, Ferndale, and Blaine high schools, and provided game coverage and care to athletes for the Bellingham Bells, and Bellingham Blazers. He would even treat athletes at home to help ensure they would be healthy for their next game. He took his athletic training service to the state level where he held the position of president of the Washington State Athletic Training Association. While in this role, he worked with several other agencies to create and pass the “Zackery Lystedt Law” to protect youth in sports from head injuries. 

Mike was a fierce competitor and had a passion for sports and mentoring youth athletes and students interested in athletic training. He loved hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and building sandcastles. He passed this on to all three of his kids. He loved to grill and BBQ. He excelled when it came to growing a plant of any kind. He was even able to take starts from the Hawaii airport and grow plumeria and bird of paradise. He had a passion for history, especially military history. He especially loved his dogs. He rarely went anywhere without them. They, in turn, hated being separated from him. I am sure his beloved basset hound, Columbo, was the first to greet him on Thursday morning. 

Mike is preceded in death by his parents Othmar and Laurie, his sister Therese, and nephew Jesse Oleson. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his children, Kyler, Conner, and Kaitlin, father- and mother-in-law, Les and Tass Galley, brother-in-law, Matt (Aimee), nephew, Baylor, niece, Maya, brother, Mark (Linda), sister, Linda (Jeff), and nieces, Nikki, Andrea, Elizabeth, Bryna, Rebecca, and Anna.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 14th at 1:00pm at Cornwall Church (4518 Northwest Dr. Bellingham, WA), with a reception following at Bellingham Golf and Country Club (3729 Meridian St. Bellingham, WA). Mike was a fierce Die Hard Coug. If you are able to attend, please wear your best crimson and grey.