Michael Andrew De Simone, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, died on August 21, 2026, in Olympia, Washington, at the age of 51. His passing has left his family, friends, and loved ones grieving the loss of a man remembered for his humor, adventurous nature, deep devotion to family, and appreciation for the simple experiences that make life special.
Born on July 23, 1975, in Hagerstown, Maryland, Michael lived a life that took him far beyond his birthplace. Over the years, he called several places home, including Florida, Texas, Arizona, South Korea, California, and Washington.
His journey through life was marked by movement, exploration, relationships, and a willingness to embrace new experiences. He traveled extensively and ultimately visited every continent except Antarctica, reflecting a curiosity about the world that remained an important part of who he was.
At the center of that adventurous life, however, was his family. For Michael, the people he loved remained his greatest source of connection and meaning.
Remembering Michael Andrew De Simone
Michael’s loved ones are remembering him for the person he was rather than simply the circumstances surrounding his death.
He had an appreciation for life’s experiences and for the people who shared them with him. Whether he was traveling somewhere new, enjoying time with family, sitting down for a meal, exchanging jokes, or sharing an ordinary day with those closest to him, Michael understood the value of making memories.
His family has shared that Michael died while eating pizza, a simple pleasure he enjoyed. The unexpected nature of that final moment is understandably difficult for those who loved him, but it has also become one of the personal details that will remain part of the family’s memories of him.
His story was ultimately about much more than how his life ended. It was about the years he lived, the places he experienced, the people he loved, and the memories he created along the way.
A Lifelong Love With Daisy De Simone
Among Michael’s most important relationships was his marriage to Daisy De Simone.
The two first met as high school sweethearts and remained together for nearly 33 years. Their relationship grew from a young romance into a lifelong partnership that carried them through decades of changes, challenges, family milestones, and shared experiences.
Nearly three and a half decades together represents a remarkable portion of a person’s life. Michael and Daisy had the opportunity to grow alongside one another, build a family, and experience the many different seasons that come with a long-term relationship.
For Michael, Daisy was not simply his wife. She was his companion through much of his adult life and someone who shared in the adventures, responsibilities, joys, and memories that shaped his journey.
His death leaves behind an enormous absence for Daisy, who is now faced with moving forward without the person who had been beside her for so many years.
The memories of their life together, however, will remain an enduring part of Michael’s legacy.
A Devoted Father to Johanna and Dani
Michael was also a loving father to his daughters, Johanna De Simone and Dani De Simone.
His daughters were an important part of his life, and the bond between a father and his children is one that continues through memories even after death.
Over the years, Michael watched Johanna and Dani grow from children into adults and build lives of their own. Like any parent, he experienced the changing seasons of fatherhood—from the early years of raising children to watching them establish their own paths.
For Johanna and Dani, his absence will undoubtedly be felt in both significant milestones and everyday moments.
Birthdays, family gatherings, holidays, conversations, photographs, and simple routines can all bring back memories of someone who is no longer physically present.
Those memories will become part of the lasting connection they share with their father.
Finding Joy in Being a Grandfather
Michael’s family grew again when he became a grandfather.
He was a grandfather to Leo, Crispan, and Trent, three grandsons who brought another source of happiness into his life.
Grandparenthood can create a special kind of bond, and Michael treasured the opportunity to experience family life from that perspective. The memories he created with his grandsons will remain part of the family’s story for years to come.
As Leo, Crispan, and Trent grow older, they will have stories, photographs, family memories, and shared experiences through which they can continue to know the grandfather they loved.
For Michael, being a grandfather was another chapter in a life already centered heavily around family.
A Spirit of Adventure and Exploration
Travel was one of the defining themes of Michael’s life.
He lived in a number of locations throughout the United States and abroad, including South Korea, giving him opportunities to experience different cultures, communities, and ways of life.
His curiosity extended even further through his travels. Michael visited every continent except Antarctica, an extraordinary accomplishment that speaks to his willingness to explore and experience the world firsthand.
For him, travel was not simply about reaching a destination. It was about the experiences that came with getting there—the places he encountered, the people he met, the cultures he experienced, and the stories he could eventually share.
Those adventures created memories that will now become an important part of how his family and friends remember him.
His life serves as a reminder that some of the most meaningful memories are created when people are willing to step outside familiar surroundings and experience something new.
A Life Spanning Many Places
Michael’s life took him through a remarkable range of locations.
He was born in Maryland and later lived in Florida, Texas, Arizona, South Korea, California, and Washington. Each place represented a different chapter of his journey.
Moving between communities can shape a person’s outlook, exposing them to different people, landscapes, cultures, and experiences. For Michael, those changes appear to have complemented his natural curiosity and adventurous spirit.
Yet despite the many places he visited and called home, the people closest to him remained a constant.
His family traveled with him through the different chapters of his life, and the relationships he formed remained more important than any particular location.
Family Members and Loved Ones
Michael leaves behind a large circle of relatives and loved ones.
He is survived by his parents, Dennis De Simone and Ruth Weber, and his brothers, Mark De Simone and Daniel De Simone.
His surviving family also includes his nephew, August De Simone; brother-in-law Daniel Shults and his family; sister-in-law Régine Labossière; stepmother Nida De Simone; stepbrother Michael Quan; and his daughter’s partner, Michael Kuerner.
Michael was also deeply connected to his adopted dog, Sandy, who was part of the family and another source of companionship in his life.
Beyond the relatives named by his family, Michael leaves behind friends and others who shared portions of his journey.
Each person carries a different memory of him, and together those memories form a fuller picture of the man he was.
The Importance of Everyday Memories
When someone dies, the moments that remain are not always the grandest ones.
Often, it is the ordinary memories that become the most meaningful.
A shared meal. A familiar joke. A conversation that lasted longer than expected. A family gathering. A trip taken together. A photograph from years ago. A favorite story told repeatedly.
These are the moments that can suddenly take on greater significance after a loved one’s passing.
For Michael’s family, those memories will help preserve his presence in their lives.
His extensive travels and many adventures will certainly provide stories to remember, but so will the quiet and ordinary moments spent with Daisy, his daughters, his grandsons, siblings, relatives, and friends.
Those memories cannot replace Michael’s presence, but they can keep his story alive.
His Family’s Request: Choose Love
Rather than asking people to send flowers, Michael’s family has encouraged those who wish to honor his memory to show love generously to the people who matter most in their lives.
It is a simple but meaningful request.
Michael’s story demonstrates the importance of relationships and shared experiences. His nearly 33-year relationship with Daisy, his role as a father and grandfather, and his connections with his wider family all illustrate how deeply human relationships can shape a person’s life.
His family hopes that people will take his passing as an opportunity to appreciate those relationships while they still have the chance.
Call someone you love. Spend time together. Say what needs to be said. Make memories. Share a meal. Take the trip. Laugh together.
Those are the kinds of gestures that can give meaning to Michael’s memory.
Funeral and Celebration of Life Services
Family and friends will have the opportunity to gather and remember Michael during services in Washington.
A viewing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, August 28, at Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold St. in Centralia.
A funeral service will follow at noon.
Later that afternoon, friends and family will gather for a celebration of Michael’s life from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1993 S. Market Blvd. in Chehalis.
These gatherings will give those who knew Michael an opportunity to come together, offer comfort to his family, share stories, and remember the experiences that made his life meaningful.
Memorial services are often as much about remembering as they are about saying goodbye. For Michael’s loved ones, the gatherings will provide space to celebrate his life while supporting one another through grief.
Cause of Death and Final Moments
Michael Andrew De Simone died on August 21, 2026, in Olympia, Washington, at age 51.
According to the account provided by his family, he died while eating pizza. That detail describes the circumstances of his final moments but does not establish a specific medical cause of death.
No additional medical explanation or independently confirmed cause of death has been provided in the information available here. For that reason, it would be inappropriate to speculate about an underlying condition or circumstance beyond what the family has reported.
What remains clear is the profound effect his passing has had on the people who knew and loved him.
A Life That Reached Around the World
Few things capture Michael’s personality better than the breadth of his experiences.
He lived in multiple states, spent part of his life in South Korea, and traveled extensively enough to visit every continent except Antarctica.
That kind of journey requires curiosity, openness, and a willingness to embrace unfamiliar experiences.
Michael’s adventures became part of his personal story, but they were never the entire story.
The places he visited mattered because of what they allowed him to experience and remember. His travels created stories that could be shared with family and friends and gave him a broad perspective on the world.
Those stories will likely continue to be told by the people who knew him.
A Legacy Built Around Family
Ultimately, Michael’s greatest legacy may not be measured by the number of places he visited.
It may instead be found in the family he built and the relationships he maintained.
He was Daisy’s husband and longtime partner. He was Johanna and Dani’s father. He was Leo, Crispan, and Trent’s grandfather. He was a son, brother, uncle, in-law, friend, and companion to Sandy.
Each of those relationships represents a different part of the life he leaves behind.
His family will continue to carry forward the stories, traditions, photographs, memories, and lessons associated with him.
While grief changes over time, the love behind that grief does not simply disappear.
Remembering Michael Andrew De Simone
Michael Andrew De Simone’s passing at 51 marks the end of a life filled with movement, discovery, family, humor, and adventure.
He experienced a remarkable range of places and cultures, but his strongest connections were ultimately with the people closest to him.
He shared nearly 33 years with his high school sweetheart, Daisy. He raised two daughters, Johanna and Dani, and later found joy in becoming a grandfather to Leo, Crispan, and Trent.
He remained connected to parents, siblings, extended relatives, friends, and the many people who became part of his journey.
His family now faces the difficult task of living with his absence while holding onto the memories that remain.
Perhaps the most fitting way to remember Michael is through the message his family has shared: love the people who matter to you while you have the opportunity.
Spend time together. Be present. Create memories. Appreciate the ordinary moments.
Those simple acts can become a lasting tribute to a man who spent his own life embracing experiences and the people who made them meaningful.
Michael Andrew De Simone will be deeply missed by his wife, daughters, grandchildren, parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and everyone who shared a chapter of his life. His memory will continue through the people he loved, the adventures he experienced, and the stories that will be told about him for years to come.