Michael John Schachle

Michael John Schachle

Michael J. Schachle, 87, died peacefully at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family on August 26, 2022. He was born October 28, 1934, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 9th of 11 children to Genevieve (Cox) and George Schachle.

In 1954, his Alaskan adventure began when Michael and his brother Leo drove the Alaska Highway. At Watson Lake the transmission in their car broke, and they spent one month washing dishes and delivering groceries for room and board waiting for the transmission. They pulled and reinstalled the transmission by straddling a ditch. In 1957, he was drafted into the Army where he served with Elvis Presley in Germany.

Michael was a true Alaskan entrepreneur during his 68 years in Alaska. He established Huffman Camper Park, RAMCO (Rallye airplanes), Big Game Alaska, M&S Investments, Cinnamon Cinder (a teenage nightclub), and Schachle Excavating; where he developed subdivisions, installed water and waste lines, foundations, and sewer systems. He was also a pilot, well driller, gold miner, land investor, dealer in Concord Motorhomes, and water and air purifiers.

In 1966, Michael married Jeanne Hopp and they resided in Anchorage where their six children were born. They moved their family to Wasilla in 1978. He had the foresight to create the Schachle Compound, where his family, extended family and friends reside. He coached his sons hockey teams and the family got fully involved in hockey. He watched his sons skate hockey their whole lives, besides attending his grandchildren’s hockey, volleyball, basketball, diving, baseball, gymnastics, soccer, track, and cross-country events. He enjoyed figuring out how to fix a problem, which was usually not the conventional way. He also enjoyed playing cards, moose and sheep hunting, fishing, snow machining, racing cars, and volunteering his time at Sacred Heart Church and throughout many communities. He was committed to his Catholic faith, an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, and role model for his whole family. He was always willing to give a helping hand to anyone and never met a stranger.

Michael is survived by his wife of 55 years Jeanne Schachle; his sons, daughter, and their spouses: Michael and Kristin (Bruno) Schachle, Keith and Michelle (Kent) Schachle, Pamela Schachle and Dave Filkill, Trent and Holli (Pulver) Schachle, Wade Schachle, and Jared Schachle; 14 grandchildren: Hunter, Chase, McKinley, KiAna, Tanner, Brayden, Porter, Josephine, Quinlen, Victoria, Vanessa, Violet, Kaden, Dalton; his brother and sister-in-law, Patrick and Cheryl Schachle; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, and five brothers.

Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on September 3, 2022. Visitation at 10:30 am, the requiem mass at 11 am, reception at 12 pm, and internment at 2:30 pm at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests you donate to Team Kaden-Great Strides Alaska at the following link: fightcf.cff.org