Matthew (Matt) John Mihelich, age 49, of Big Lake, Washington, passed away at home on November 29, 2021. He was born on September 5, 1972, to Phil and Marilyn (Christensen) Mihelich in Enumclaw, Washington. Matt graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1990 and married Tristin Johnson on August 15, 1992, in Mount Vernon, Washington. He attended Pacific Lutheran University receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Education, and then he attended Western Washington University receiving a Master of Education and K-12 principal’s certificate. He later completed his Washington State Superintendent Certification from Washington State University. He lived in Enumclaw, Fort Knox, Sedro-Woolley, Tacoma, and Big Lake. Matt started his career first as a teacher, then a principal, and most recently as the Executive Director of Human Resources and Health Services for the Sedro-Woolley School District. He worked at several schools in the Skagit County area and influenced the lives of hundreds of students. As a teacher and then as a principal, Matt saw each person as an individual worthy of respect. He truly saw each and every child. He was also an advocate for the children, especially the ones that needed more help or discipline. His ability to connect with people and marshal parent’s support for the school was legendary.
Matt played college football for PLU where he met many lifelong friends. He continued his passion for sports by coaching soccer, basketball, baseball, and football teams in his community. He also coached many of his children’s teams. He loved to watch his kids play sports and never missed their games. Matt had a passion for traveling, including motorhome trips across the country and several trips to Europe with his family. He was a member of Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon and had recently joined the Rotary Club of Sedro-Woolley. Matt was a wonderful spouse and father who loved his family deeply. He was loved beyond measure and will be greatly missed by all his family and everyone who knew him, including many Sedro-Woolley friends, PLU football teammates and coaches, and co-workers in Burlington and Sedro-Woolley.
Matt is survived by his wife Tristin (Johnson), and his children Davis, Maren and Emmett, his sister Lara Kammereck and her husband, Andreas Kammereck and their children Karl and Elsa, in-laws Gary and Kris Johnson, sister-in-law Kyann DeJong and her husband Eric and their children Si, Eli, Emery and Ethan, brother-in-law Kaalan Johnson and his wife Gretchen and their children Ashton, Zaden and Larkin, brother-in-law Jeremiah Johnson and his wife Molly and their children Olen, Jonas and Ansel, sister-in-law Sarah Johnson, and brother-in-law Kurtis and his wife Sydney and their children Kurtis Jr., Adelyn, Kayli and Jameson, in addition to numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Phil and Marilyn Mihelich, grandparents Joe and Wilma Mihelich and Hans and Dorothy Christensen.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday December 22, 2021, at Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, WA. His final resting place will be at Enumclaw Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. Share your memories of Matt and sign the online guest register.
Those wishing to contribute in remembrance of Matt’s life may send charitable donations to the Mihelich Family Scholarship Fund. Donations will help send Sedro-Woolley High School students to college and may be mailed to:
The Sedro-Woolley Alumni & Schools Foundation
Attn: The Mihelich Family Scholarship
P.O. Box 509
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
Sorry to hear of Matt’s passing, We met in passing in Kindergarten I had morning class he had afternoon and we shared the same desk. 1st Grade is when we became friends and some how drift apart as we got older. He was a good guy R.I.P Matt.
Our family’s thoughts and prayers are with Matt’s loved ones in this most difficult of times. We wish for you all to have peace and draw strength from Matt’s presence in your lives. Our deepest sympathies for your loss.
My deepest sympathies to you and the family. I had planned to attend the memorial service, but unfortunately my family has been exposed to covid recently. Know that I am there in spirit. May your memories of Matt sustain you now in your time of grief.
What a beautiful soul! Our dear friend Matt you will be missed. God Bless you and your children. You will be missed by many but we all have so many wonderful- fun memories with you we will keep near and dear to our hearts! Happy to celebrate you next week.
Matt’s passing has been so tough to take in as I’m sure we all feel that way. I first met Matt when I was Davis’s soccer coach many years ago. Davis came with wonderful parents and it wasn’t long before Matt was a friend. Eventually I lost Davis to football but soon Matt and I were coaching Little League together when our kids were 11 and 12. We were not much good at player development but we sure enjoyed the managing part. Seeing Matt’s knowledge and love for the community and its families made his friendship so enjoyable to me since I hadn’t grown up here in the valley. In recent years, it’s been a joy when I’ve seen Matt, to catch up as old friends and hear how Davis and the rest of the family had been. I will surely miss those encounters and will cherish the memories I have. My thoughts and grief go out to Tristin and the family.
Matt was a wonderful principal to work for at Lyman Elementary. He was willing to help with whatever was needed. He will be truly missed! His family are in my thoughts and prayers. Mandy Englund (Mainard)
Matt was an integral part of the Sedro-Woolley School District. I enjoyed chatting with him at district events. He always had a smile on his face.