Mike Walter

Mike Walter peacefully passed into Heaven on 27 March 2009 surrounded by his family. Born to Cyril and Lorraine (Coe) Walter on 14 October 1943, Mike was a 1962 graduate of Marquette High School in Yakima. He was a diving champion for the US Army and a combat veteran of Vietnam.

Tennis became a passion for him in his forties, and he was a top ranked player at the Yakima Tennis Club. His unrivaled ability allowed him and his partner to win the Kissel Park Summer Tournament the day before discovering his illness last fall.

Mike was a master musician who wrote, recorded and performed hundreds of songs over forty years. Mike influenced and inspired many local musicians by opening his recording studio to the people of the Yakima Valley. He has produced and archived thousands of recordings for local and regional musicians.

He lives on through his wife of 43 years Jan (Dettling); his son Brian (Heidi), Dalton, and Jack; his daughter Julie Carver (Mike) Tyler and Jacob; and daughter Jennifer Griggs (Kevin) Jaclyn, Garret and Desiree. He was met in Heaven by his brother Pat; and is survived by his siblings, Rich of Yakima, John of Ellensburg, Mark of Boise and his sister Mary Jean of Salt Lake City.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Holy Family Catholic Church.