Michael Thomas Calnan, 55

Michael ”Mike” Thomas Calnan, 55, passed away in Seattle on Nov. 10, 2022, after a long and valiant battle with brain cancer. At the time of his passing our warrior was surrounded by the loving arms of his family.

Mike, along with his ever-present twin brother Mark, was born on Jan. 21, 1967, in Libby to Kevin and Coletta Calnan. The family moved to Kalispell in 1970. Mike attended local schools and graduated from Flathead High School in 1985. Mike excelled in both the classroom and the football field. He was chosen captain of the Braves his senior year and selected to play in the annual East-West Shrine Game at the safety position.

Carroll College, a college near and dear to the Calnan family, came calling and offered Mike a football scholarship. Mike again excelled. He started at safety for the Saints for four years earning 1st Team All-Conference. Mike graduated with honors from Carroll College in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree. In 2009 Mike was inducted into the Carroll College Football Hall of Fame. He was proud to have played for the “Fighting Saints” and religiously followed the team’s success the rest of his life.

After graduation Mike made his way to Seattle with his brother Mark. Seattle would be home to Mike for the remainder of his life. Mike held several jobs early in his career including AT&T Wireless before settling in with Boeing where he had a successful 2-plus tenure career as a material planner. In 1997 he met the love of his life, Paige Corley. Mike and Paige were married in 2005 and together they built a beautiful life. They welcomed their son Conor to the world in 2009. Simply put, Conor was Mike’s greatest joy.

Mike was a quiet, humble, gentle soul. If you knew Mike, you loved Mike. It did not take much to make him happy — it was always the little things that meant the most to him: trips to the Coast with his wife and son, Pearl Jam concerts with his brother, antiquing with his dad, head and neck rubs from his mom, backyard barbecues at his sister’s, a bowl of Nibs licorice, Grandma Ida’s popcorn balls, perfectly placed Christmas tree ornaments and football games on any given Sunday.

Mike was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Clem and Ida Weiand from Whitefish, and his paternal grandparents Tim and Mary Calnan from Anaconda.

He is survived by his wife, Paige, and their son Conor from Seattle; his mother, Coletta Calnan, from Kalispell; his father, Kevin Calnan and stepmother Terri Haueter, from Kalispell; his brother and best friend, Mark Calnan from Seattle; his sister, Christie Calnan-Gersack and her husband Brett and their family from Seattle; his stepsiblings, Leif Thorsen and Cliff Thorsen and their families; along with his many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

In the last 10 years, Mike endured many health challenges. Mike never complained. He faced each challenge with determination and grace — right to the very end. His love for his family ran deep, often ending conversations with, “I love you with all my heart.” Mike, you will be missed beyond measure. Your absence hurts. May you rest in peace, and just as we have heard from you so many times before, we now say to you, “We love you with all our hearts.”

A celebration of life will be held in Seattle this winter and Kalispell this spring. At that time family and friends will be invited to come share memories and stories of our Mike.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Brain Tumor Society in Mike’s name to honor his brave fight against brain cancer. Donations can be made online at www.braintumor.org or mailed to:

National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 006, Newton, MA 02458.

“There's no need to say goodbye, All the friends and family, All the memories going round, round, round, round, I have wished for so long, how I wish for you today, And the sun is set, The sun will rise another day” — Pearl Jam, “Long Road”