Jess Tolbert Obituary

Jess Michael "Mike" Tolbert passed away quietly with his wife, Marie-Fabienne, at his side on May 30 (Memorial Day), 2022, at the Simone Veil Hospital in Cannes, France, from complications of Parkinson's disease. His children, Jessica and Jeremy, were privileged to be present with Mike in France during the short illness that preceded his passing.

Born in The Dalles, Oregon, Nov. 21, 1945, to Walter "Tex" Tolbert and Esther Hepler Tolbert, Mike grew up near Husum, Washington, on the White Salmon River. He graduated from Columbia High School in White Salmon in 1963, where he played tight end on the football team, acted in plays, played trumpet in the band and was known as the class clown. He attended Everett Junior College in Everett, Washington, after which he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965. He attended the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, earning awards in sharp-shooting and parachuting while growing his expertise in Morse Code communications. He made sergeant during his two-year hitch as a Green Beret and proudly served.

Mike came to Alaska in 1967 for an adventure and started working for United Geophysical as a "juggy," placing seismic charges for oil and mineral exploration then took on various roles as driver, expeditor, camp manager and operations manager. After a two-year hiatus to study natural resources at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, he saw an opportunity that led to the formation of Taiga Ventures in 1979. Mike used his can-do attitude and knowledge of the industry to grow Taiga to successfully support remote natural resource exploration, environmental cleanups and studies, disaster housing and even movie making throughout Alaska, a business that continues to thrive today. Mike had significant positive influences in his lifetime, and he relished that through Taiga he could offer opportunities for growth, second chances and life-changing success to others.

Mike met Judy in Kotzebue, and they married in 1971. The had two children, Jessica and Jeremy, who brought great joy to Mike as he loved watching their sports, especially swimming, and encouraged their education, sense of adventure and travel. In 1985, the family spent the year in Thaon-les-Vosges, France, from where they explored every corner of the country and western Europe. There, Mike learned enough French to buy the daily bread and newspaper, make many lifelong friends and cheer on Jessica and Jeremy at their swim meets.

In 1994, while vacationing in France on his new Harley-Davidson, he met his future wife, Marie-Fabienne. They married in 1996. Marie shared with Mike her love of French cuisine and culture, and Mike grew to love foie gras and cheeses and would even enjoy a glass of red wine while they played cards. Mike was also close to Marie's family, including his beloved "Maman" Janou Rousseau and her sister, Odette Blanchard. Mike and Marie enjoyed welcoming guests to their homes in Fairbanks, Palm Desert, California, and Mandelieu, France, and sharing the beauty of Alaska, the American southwest and the Côte d'Azur.

Mike was an immensely proud "Popi" to Jessica's boys and was always thrilled to hear about Luke's baseball and Milo's lacrosse games. Luke and Milo enjoyed listening to all of their Popi's stories of his amazing adventures, were incredibly impressed with his master forklift skills, crazy dance moves and quick wit.

Though never quite retired, Mike loved hiking and took great pride in chairing the Hiking Club at Deep Canyon Tennis Club. "Hikey Mikey" was well known for leading friends and family on day long expeditions around the Coachella Valley, where his long legs and boundless energy went into conquering "Butt Buster" hikes up steep mountains that often left his companions gasping. He was also a life-long tennis player, enjoying competitive but friendly doubles tennis matches with his "Motley Crew" at DCTC and finding any chance to watch a fellow match.

Mike loved cruising with Jeremy in their restored ruby '54 Chevy and proudly attended many car shows and parade. He was especially proud to be the best man at Jeremy's wedding to Charlotte Ojala last August in Las Vegas. He savored a "good old American breakfast" with his buds and relished the drama of the high stakes coin toss to determine who would pick up the check and finishing the day with a big bowl of ice cream.

In a life filled with hard work and many adventures, Mike's last great challenge was his Parkinson's diagnosis, which he faced with courage and strength. Mike found hope and a positive community at regular sparring sessions at Rock Steady Boxing, which uses vigorous exercise to slow the progression of Parkinson's. He was a thoughtful and encouraging friend for others in his life who also suffered from Parkinson's. As always, he was a constant motivator to everyone in his world.

Mike is survived by his wife, Marie-Fabienne Tolbert; his daughter, Jessica (Ian Doten) of Seattle, Washington; his son, Jeremy Tolbert (Charlotte Ojala) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; grandsons, Luke Hupprich and Milo Hupprich of Seattle; brother, Lud Tolbert (Lynn); former wife, Judy Tolbert, and the entire Taiga Ventures family. He also leaves friends from Alaska to California to France. He was preceded in death by his parents and half-brothers, Russell Tolbert and Larry Tolbert.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at the Wedgewood Resort Ballroom and Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.

Condolences may be sent to [email protected] or to Marie-Fabienne Tolbert c/o Taiga Ventures 2700 S. Cushman Fairbanks, AK 99701.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rock Steady Boxing at RockSteadyBoxing.org.