Michael Alan Zumwalt

Michael Alan Zumwalt, born on July 9, 1962, in Burien, Washington, was the third son of Jack and Sonia (née Sullivan) Zumwalt. He passed away unexpectedly from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome at his home in Natalia, Texas.

Growing up as a Navy brat, Michael’s childhood was shaped by travel and resilience. During the Vietnam Era, his family was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, while his father traveled monthly into Vietnam. The family later moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, for a year until a hurricane wiped out the base, prompting Michael and his siblings to fly back to Seattle to stay with their Grandpa Sully. Upon reassignment, the family moved to Port Hueneme, California, where Michael's parents frequently treated the kids to “Abelskivers” from nearby Solvang—a cherished memory he held well into adulthood.

The family's final duty station was Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor, Washington, where Michael completed junior high and high school. He forged lifelong friendships there, and alongside his brother Tim and friends Dave Sowers and Ray Henninger, founded the “Bad Weather Golf Tournament.” Held every day after Christmas regardless of the elements, the tournament featured a legendary bet: the losing pair had to give their firstborn child the middle name of the winners.

Sports and competition were cornerstones of family life. A life-long athlete, Michael played football, baseball, and golf from a young age. When the Seattle Seahawks formed in the 1970s, the Zumwalt family was among the first to hold season tickets. Michael's loyalty to the team was famous; as a proud member of the “12th Man,” he was present when fans set a Guinness World Record for breaking the sound barrier in 2013, and he attended Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. He only missed Super Bowl XLVIII to attend his daughter’s wedding. Continuing a cherished tradition with his brother Terry, Michael was laid to rest with a silver dollar following the Seahawks' latest victory in 2026.

After high school, Michael attended Washington State University, where he joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and began working as a manager for Domino’s Pizza. He was set up on a date by a mutual friend and met his first wife, Kris (née Hedberg). They married in August 1984 and relocated to Spokane, and later Ukiah, California. Seeking a change of pace, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986. Following basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he and Kris were stationed in Augsburg, Germany. They spent their European tour traveling through Paris, Venice, and Germany, even spending time in Nuremberg with his brother Tim, who was stationed there simultaneously.

Returning to the states to Fort Ord, California, in the fall of 1988, the couple soon welcomed their son, Brandon Timothy, in May 1989. Fifteen months later, in October 1990, they were surprised and delighted by the birth of their daughter, Courtney Marie.

Michael’s military career was defined by prolific, dedicated service. His unit at Fort Ord was activated in preparation for operations in Panama. When his active-duty tour concluded in 1991, he returned to school to finish his degree at San Jose State University. While there, he was accepted into Officer Candidate School (OCS), training on weekends until he was commissioned as an Officer in the Army National Guard. His subsequent 22-year military career included deployments with U.S. peacekeeping forces in Bosnia for a year in 1996, a 17-month tour in the Middle East bridging Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004–2005 and providing aid during Hurricane Katrina.

In his civilian life, Michael earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from SJSU, becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He initially worked for the Cook & Allen CPA firm in San Jose as he and Kris raised their children in Mountain View before eventually separating. Michael later purchased his own CPA firm, successfully running it for a decade before selling the business to become a consultant.

Michael spent many wonderful years living in the Livermore Valley Wine Country with his second wife, Janelle (née Hailey), his children, and their Weimaraners, a breed he fell in love with thanks to his sister, Kari. He made many friends during this time, fully embracing the local wineries and the welcoming, small-town feel of Livermore. In 2015, he was proud to become a grandfather to Caesar Matthias, later welcoming Bjorn Michael in 2018 and Linnea Marie in 2024. As a bachelor moving toward retirement, he settled in his custom-built home in Natalia, Texas, making unforgettable memories with his grandchildren in his final years.

A man of many passions, Michael enjoyed camping, hiking, rock climbing, and golfing every chance he got. A passionate motorcycle enthusiast, Michael was active in biker clubs with his close friend and brother in arms, Paul Gilbert, spending countless hours riding and working on their Harley-Davidsons together. He was a skilled card and pool player who frequently hosted friends and family for food, drinks, cigars, and swimming. Highly intelligent, exceptionally kind-hearted, and famously sociable, Michael’s greatest skill was making friends, it was often said he never met a stranger.

Despite his many professional and military accomplishments, Michael’s greatest joy was his family. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, perseverance, dedication, and immense pride. His untimely passing is a profound shock and heartbreak to the family, friends, mentors, and mentees who continue to love and respect him.

Michael is survived by his son, Brandon; his daughter, Courtney, and son-in-law, Caesar; his treasured grandchildren, Caesar, Bjorn, and Linnea; his loving parents, Jack and Sonia; his brothers, Terry (Kim) and Tim (Maria); his sister, Kari (Micah); his nieces, Teresa (Travis), Becca (Paul), Rio, Carson, and Cortlynd; and his nephews, Jack, Spencer, and Llewyn.