Michael D. Hallmark

Michael David Hallmark, 74, passed away on September 19, 2025 surrounded by his wife and loving family members where he resided at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise, Idaho.

Michael (Mike) was born on October 12, 1950 in Walla Walla, Washington, son of James David Hallmark and June Bernice (Smith) Hallmark, the fourth of seven children. He lived his younger years in Walla Walla until 1959 when his father was transferred with United Airlines to Boise, Idaho. Mike attended various schools in the Boise area and learned the art of bike riding, doing chores, gardening and canning at home. Later he worked one summer on a ranch, and then washed dishes at a local restaurant. In 1969, during his senior year at Borah High School, he learned he was to be drafted so he and a friend enlisted in the US Navy. He went to boot camp in San Diego, CA and then was assigned to serve aboard the USS Sperry, a submarine tender. Right before shipping off to Vietnam he became seriously ill and was hospitalized and diagnosed with regional enteritis (crohn’s disease). Mike spent over three months in the naval hospital in Oakland, CA and on December 9, 1969 he was honorably discharged from the service.

After the navy, Mike returned home, became a welder and married his first wife. Soon he switched jobs and began working at Madison’s Furniture where he worked for several years. Mike and his wife lived in Boise for the duration of their marriage and had four daughters, Michele, Melissa, Keri and Kami.

In 1981, Michael married his second wife, Kareena. She had a daughter from her previous marriage, Kala, making 5 girls total between them. They moved to Colorado where Mike worked for Coca Cola and then American Furniture in Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins. They had their first daughter together, Kimberly, before moving back to Idaho. Months later, Mike was hired by Levitz Furniture in Salt Lake City where they lived for 12 years. Britnee and Julianne were both born in Sandy, UT, making a grand total of 8 girls! Mike was transferred with Levitz to Portland, OR and three years later, he left Levitz and began working for Michael’s Furniture back in Boise. After working 30 years in retail furniture, Mike found a new passion. Computers! His last ten years of employment were in IT and Tech positions, testing firmware and software. He enjoyed his time working with engineers and developers at HP until he retired in 2011.

Michael was born a handyman. He could fix almost anything, including plumbing, electrical, sprinkler systems, appliances etc. He tackled remodeling projects, worked on cars and especially loved building and repairing computer systems. His hobbies were building remote control gas powered cars, rc airplanes and an 80 gallon aquarium system. He enjoyed snow skiing, racquetball, camping, fishing, swimming and canning. Mike loved good music, playing mahjong and spider solitaire on his laptop, card games, Yahtzee, watching action movies, scifi channel, BSU football and Utah Jazz basketball games. He loved treats, including chocolate, ice cream, shakes, onion rings, Big Bun hamburgers, and diet Dr. Pepper. He also loved cars, old and new. His favorite cars he owned were a ’69 Mustang fastback and a ’55 Chevy. Most of all, Mike loved motorcycles. The way they looked, sounded and the way they made him feel.

Michael was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings over his lifetime. He LOVED his family and looked forward to spending time with each daughter, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. In 2016 he was diagnosed with Parkinsons and later developed dementia. Other health issues were surfacing and eventually he moved into the Idaho State Veterans Home. Mike and Kareena spent their 44th wedding anniversary together two days before he passed away. Each of his daughters were able to say goodbye and tell him how much he was loved. Michael will be missed but we will all rejoice when we are reunited again.

Michael is lovingly remembered by his wife, Kareena Ann Hallmark, Boise, ID; daughters: Michele Reiche, Livonia, MI; Melissa Byrne, Nampa, ID; Keri Oldroyd, Pullman, WA; Kami Bahnmiller, Meridian, ID; Kimberly Christofferson, Boise, ID; Britnee Shaw, Kennewick, WA; Julianne Sessions, Gig Harbor, WA; step-daughter: Kala Pillow, South Jordan, UT; siblings: Dianna Smith, Pasco, WA; Steven Hallmark, SLC, UT; Kris Bleazard, Boise, ID; Lorrie Naylor, Boise, ID. They currently have 27 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, James David and June Bernice Hallmark; sisters: Pam Wagner and Jill Zier; granddaughters: Whitney Oldroyd and Myra Bahnmiller.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm with a funeral service at 6:00 pm at Bowman Funeral Parlor located at 10254 W. Carlton Bay Garden City, Idaho. A committal service will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 10:00 am at The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery located at 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Road Boise, Idaho. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bowmanfuneral.com