Michael Robert Lydum

There was only one Mike Lydum. He made his first appearance September 4, 1959, at Seattle’s Ballard Hospital, the third child of Gary and Mary Lydum. His extraordinary ability to collect friends was the hallmark of his beautiful life, which ended September 1, 2024, in his beloved hometown of Seattle.

Mike charged head-long into life – he could be ferocious on a football field and in the next instant be soft and compassionate. He gave his heart freely to all, and making meaningful connections was what mattered most to him. He had many personas, which he assumed with full commitment and energy.  He didn’t aspire to formal leadership positions, yet everyone followed him. Mike skillfully curated and maintained lifelong friendships through sports, school, at work, and extending to all of those he collected along the highway. He truly never met a stranger.

Young Mike immediately took to sports and was coached for many seasons by his dad, Gary. He was adept as a baseball catcher and basketball forward, but his calling was football. As fullback and defensive end for Wedgwood Junior Football, his teams won two city championships. The sound of his hits reverberated across Dahl Field. The Wedgwood community was a focal point in his life. For him, wearing the Green and White was the ultimate badge of honor.

Mike was a product of Catholic education, first attending Our Lady of the Lake Parish School and later Blanchet High School, where he met his high school sweetheart and mother of his first three children, Amy Roselli. He rose to football prominence as a Blanchet Brave (now Bears) under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Mickey Naish. Mike earned All-Metro honors and bonded with so many teammates who stayed life-long friends.

After graduating from Blanchet in 1978, he attended Mount Hood College in Gresham, OR, and played football. He transferred to the University of Puget Sound, where he continued his football career with the Loggers and graduated in 1982 with a degree in Business Finance.  Mike carried his love of sports through his entire life. His favorites were often unpopular with local fans. He was devoted to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Winnipeg Jets, although recently he was warming up to our hometown Seattle Kraken.

Following school, Mike began his working career in electrical sales, utilizing his two greatest skills: relentless effort and the gift of gab. He was highly inquisitive, spending hours studying product manuals to ensure he possessed expert knowledge of his craft. His first two prominent jobs were with Hooper Electric and Stoneway Electric. This branched out to a 36-year career selling industrial pipe products at Maskell-Robbins, US Filter, Hughes Supply, IPP, Strongbridge International, and High Country Fusion. He shared his expertise from coast to coast in the USA and among his legions of friendly customers across Canada.

Mike was a proud daddy, his heart melting for his daughters Brynn, Darcy, and Grace, along with his stepchildren Samantha, Drew, Olivia and Jack, whom he embraced fully into his life after marrying his beloved wife Renae in 2000. Together they created a loving, bustling home where Mike enjoyed dubbing his kids with whimsical nicknames – BTL, Boots, Mountain Goat, Xena, OC, and King, to name a few.

Mike tragically lost his first child, Drew Michael, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) after six short weeks of life in 1985. He carried this weight through his life, but his experience of such profound grief honed his already powerful empathy, which he used to support countless others in their times of need for the rest of his days.

Mike is survived by his devoted wife, Renae; daughters Brynn Lydum, Darcy Lydum Bitar (Rodolfo), Grace Lydum, Samantha Sittauer, and Olivia Sittauer (Bayly Peterson); sons Drew Sittauer and Jack Sittauer; brother Chip Lydum (Cynthia); sisters Lisa Anderson (Steve), Laurie Lydum (Greg Koehler); and grandchildren Carter, Gabriela, and Bodie. He had one niece, whom he fondly called Only, and many loving nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his father Gary Lydum, mother Mary Lydum, and son Drew Michael Lydum.

Mike’s bright light will be missed by all.

A memorial mass will be held Thursday, September 12, 11:00 am, Our Lady of the Lake Church, 8900 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115. A reception at the church will be held following mass.

A private family burial service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in NE Seattle following the reception.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Northwest Infant Survival & SIDS Alliance https://nwsids.org/history/

- Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home Lake View -