Michael Henry Mathiasen died in Sweet Home, Ore. while fulfilling the dream of a lifetime – circling the United State on his bicycle with his dear friend Bill Pritchard.
Born May 27, 1946, in Hot Springs, Ark., Mr. Mathiasen was the youngest son of Ruth and Edward and the beloved husband of Kathleen. Mike and Kathy recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with an Alaskan cruise.
He graduated from San Jose State University and worked for the Santa Clara County Juvenile Department for 30 years and retired as manager of Holden Boys Ranch. He loved the ocean and the outdoors and was an avid sailor on his boat, the Dulcinea.
He ran many a marathon, and it was on his latest love, the bicycle, that he began his last quest. His dream was to circle the United States on his bike.
He and his longtime friend Bill Pritchard had completed one trip across the southern route from Southern California to Florida, and he also had cycled most of the West Coast with his children, Emily and William.
Mathiasen and Bill Pritchard planned to ride the northern route in an effort to raise donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as Mike’s wife Kathy lives with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
They had just started the first leg of this journey when he suffered a heart attack.
Mr. Mathiasen served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. His father was in the Army and he and his family moved 21 times in 20 years, including a five-year stay in Germany. It was when he married the love of his life, Kathy, that he found his home in Gilroy.
He is the father of Elizabeth Arleen, 24, Emily Catherine, 21, and William Drake, 20; the brother and brother-in-law of Edward and Candy Mathiasen of Friendswood, Texas.; the son-in-law of William Cox of Stevenson, and Maxine Cox, deceased; the brother-in-law to Kevin and Janie Cox of Wellington, Fla., Katora and Dwight Morejohn of Davis, Kerry and David Duerr of Morgan Hill, Kelly Cox of Madison, Wisc. and Kirby Cox of Gilroy. He leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Edward and his mother-in-law Maxine, but leaves behind many who will miss him every day.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in lieu of flowers. A link can be found at www.bikingvikingsforacure.com.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
