Most obituaries start with the person’s real name.  However, many of you only knew him as Duffer.  Sherman Keith Michael (Duffer), passed away peacefully the morning of June 30th.  To say the man lived a full life in 92 years is definitely an understatement.

Duffer was born June 6, 1934, in Davenport, Washington to Keith and Cathern Michael.  He was the 3rd oldest of 11 children.  The family moved to Emida in the fall of 1944 and that is where the Michael Family built their home.  In his younger years, he and his father horse logged to make a living for the family.  He was the oldest then of his siblings, and the smallest.  And quickest.  Mule often told the story of Duffer being fast, as he loved to run his mouth and often times, after trying to grab him, Mule was just left with his shirt – and Duffer running away.  He dropped out of school to help support his brothers and sisters and received his GED. 

In 1954 he enlisted in the Army.  He was a helicopter mechanic in the US Army for 3 years before honorable discharge home. Once back home, he drove school bus and started his truck driving career.  Home to Duffer was Emida and St. Maries.  After a courtship or two after returning home from the Army (Duff being known as quite the ladies man), he married Barbara Bowler in 1958 and together they had a son Johnny.  He then married Bev Nelson (Anderson) in 1961 and made a home in Fernwood.  Shane was born in 1963.  That marriage also ended in a divorce, and in 1967 he married Janet Sundell (Linnemeyer), But everything changed when he met the love of his life, Joyce Bieber.  The two of them hit it off probably before they should have and married in 1974.  They remained married until Joyce’s passing in 2007.  She was the only woman who could give Duffer a look and he would knock off whatever he was up to or doing.  Together they had Alissa and Brad – who both were truly the apple of their eyes.

Duffer had many trucking jobs, many of which included lowboying heavy equipment and logging.  He lowboyed the steam donkey to where it sits today at Cabin City.  He started what would be his final career with Jack Buell Trucking the summer of 1971 and worked there for over 30 years.  He lowboyed, hauled logs, and eventually settled down into the chip truck.  The year he actually retired is unknown, as he continued to do odd jobs dump trucking and driving cars back and forth to Spokane for Felton Auto Sales until August 2021, when he was in an accident.    

Duffer was a 55 year member of the Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge member for 59 years-receiving Elk of the Year in 2021, American Legion member for 25 years, on the Paul Bunyan Day Committee for 30 years, and a St. Joe River Boat Club member (even though he has never owned a boat or wore a pair of swimming trunks).  He was very proud to be a member of each of these organizations and took whatever duty he had seriously.  Even if it was just to keep the dogs out of the park. 

He lived at home until shortly after he turned 91, when he moved into Valley Vista Cottage Care.  There he won the aides over with his ornery personality and a touch of a sweet side.

Duffer lived a life full of work, social gatherings, bad jokes, probably too much MacNaughtons, a maple bar and coffee every day, a bunch of stubbornness and a whole lot of love.  He leaves behind his daughter Alissa (Shane) Michael, Brad (Adriane) Michael both of St. Maries, grandchildren Sheena Michael, Dakotah and Abbie Wilks and Chase Michael, Brianna Peters, great-grandchildren Letty and Remy Smith, Bo Charles, a soon to be baby girl Cochran and numerous nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents Keith and Cathern Michael, wife Joyce Michael, sons Johnny Anderson and Shane Michael, brothers Alan, Frank, and Doug Michael, Larry LeGrande, sisters Alice Mae Michael, Peg Guenther, and Jan Kinglsey.   

Military Honors will be presented to honor Duffer on Friday, August 14, 2026 at Noon at the Veteran’s Memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery.  A Celebration of Life service will follow at 1:00 pm at the Elks Lodge with a potluck gathering of family and friends afterwards to share a meal. For those who want to contribute to the Potluck, please drop off your salads or desserts on Thursday and Friday.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Upriver Saddle Club - PO Box 164, Santa, ID 83866.