Michael John Vermaas, 45, died Monday, July 9, 2001, at the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier, Idaho following a year-long battle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 15, 1955, in Montpelier, Bear Lake, Idaho, to William and Marie Berrey Vermaas. Mike married Julie Nelson, his lifetime sweetheart, on May 17, 2001, in Logan, Utah.

He attended schools in the Bear Lake district and graduated in 1974. Following graduation, Mike served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Great Lakes Mission.

Mike faced many challenges due to ill health, but with each challenge came the desire to overcome the obstacle. This continued throughout his entire life. He was an active member of the Montpelier Lions Club and recently served as their president. The "Outstanding Citizen Award" was presented to him last year. He was also a longtime member of the Bear Lake Car Club. Mike had a special talent for car restoration, and his 1969 Camaro received many first-place and all-around best awards.

Mike's loving, happy personality drew many, many people to him. He had a great number of friends of all ages. He was a wonderful listener, and always put everyone else's needs before his own. He was the most favorite uncle to his nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his wife, Julie, and two stepsons, Chris and Anthony Nelson; his father, William Vermaas of Montpelier; a brother, Bill (Hanna) Vermaas of Salmon, Idaho; two sisters, Mary (Clare) Beck of Paris, Idaho, and Kristen (Clay) Ellis of Taylorsville, Utah. He was preceded in death by his mother, Marie Berrey Vermaas, his younger brother, Robert Craig Vermaas, and both paternal and maternal grandparents.

The family will greet friends Thursday evening, July 12 at Matthews Mortuary in Montpelier from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A private family memorial service will be held on Friday, July 13 to comply with Mike's wishes, and the interment will follow in the Wardboro Cemetery.