Michael Lewis George Schaertl - Walker Funeral Home

Michael Lewis George Schaertl, 69, passed away in his home on Thursday, June 25, 2026 after a 2-year battle with brain cancer. He was an incredibly loving husband, father, uncle, brother, friend, and Papa.

Michael was born on April 2, 1957 to Gerald Arthur Schaertl and Katherine Shellhammer. He grew up in Seneca Falls, New York with his sisters, Linda and Chris.

Mike loved his growing up years and spoke fondly of his childhood. He spent his summers on Cayuga Lake, racing sail boats (and winning!) with his dad. His dad was his best friend and drinking buddy and when they weren’t racing sailboats, they were water skiing in the summer or snow skiing in the winter.

Mike was an incredible musician. He started with the drums at an early age, often keeping his sisters awake and annoyed with his constant drumming (they actually really loved it). He would later learn to play the guitar and harmonica and learned to compose songs on the piano.

At the age of 12, while climbing a tree in upstate New York, Mike slipped and grabbed hold of a 12,500 volt wire. His heart stopped for 3 1/2 minutes, but through the help of others he was brought back to life. From that early experience, Mike knew that there was a life after death and a God who loved him and it became a spiritual North Star that guided him the rest of his life.

Mike grew up in the Catholic faith and wanted to be a Priest one day. He attended a private Catholic school where he often argued with the Nuns or had to be sent to the Priest’s office for disrupting class by making everyone laugh. Mike had a gift of making others laugh and telling stories that captivated everyone around him.

Mike worked alongside his dad as a mason. They worked on many cool projects, Mike’s favorite being the restoration of the Peter Whitmer home in Fayette, New York. At the completion of this project, the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints came to see the home. Mike’s dad exclaimed, “Mike, you have to meet this guy; he’s like the Pope!”

Mike worked his “fanny” off and became an incredible lacrosse player. He led his high school and collegiate teams in goals scored. He went on to play at Niagara University where his speed affectionately earned him the name “Runs Like A Deer.”

While taking a break from school, Mike toured the world as a drummer in the band, Up With People. While traveling across the United States, he drove through a city with the most beautiful mountains he had ever seen and a feeling that this place was home. After learning from the bus driver that they were traveling through Provo, Utah, he knew he had to get back there one day.

After touring with UWP, Mike returned to Niagara University where he felt a strong nudge to leave (that’s putting it lightly, he described it as a panicked feeling, like a bomb was going to go off if he didn’t get out of there). He looked through his travel journal to find the name of the town he loved while on tour. He called up the Provo Chamber of Commerce and asked if they had a college and within a week he had packed up and driven across the country to transfer to Brigham Young University. His only knowledge about BYU came from his mom when she said, “Mike, I think that’s a religious school.”

The stories he told of coming to BYU as a Catholic are hilarious and always had people laughing. Mike often traveled around giving firesides where he shared his life story and his conversion from Catholicism to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Mike was baptized and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints on March 1, 1980.

Mike continued with lacrosse at BYU where he became a strong leader and captain of the team (along with maintaining his streak as leading scorer). Mike met an incredible group of friends while living at University Villa in Provo, Utah. Friends that his wife and kids consider family. Mike met the love of his life, Janet Bingham, while living at the Villa. He often told the story of hearing the voice of an angel and had to meet whoever that voice belonged to. He spent the rest of the evening making himself sick eating s’more’s just so he could spend a little more time with her. Mike and Janet were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on March 31, 1984.

Mike graduated from BYU with a Bachelors Degree in Film and Cinematography and spent the next 40+ years following his love and passion for making movies. Mike loved talking about working with Jim Carrey on Dumb and Dumber and how much he made everyone laugh. One of the highlights of his career was working on the hit TV series Touched by an Angel. It was on Touched by an Angel where he met crew members that became his family. Mike’s family finds great comfort in knowing that Kent Johnson (his brother from another mother) and Dave Stoddard were there to greet Dad in heaven and we can only imagine the projects they are working on now.

Mike was most proud of the work he did with the LDS Motion Picture Studio where he worked on projects for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and was able to work and learn from President Gordon B. Hinckley, Russell M. Nelson and others. In his later years he passed his skills on to the next generation by teaching Cinematography at UVU. He absolutely loved his students.

Mike’s greatest joy was working with his kids and he loved having them on set with him. He loved introducing his kids to everyone and the pride he felt for his kids was evident in the way he talked about them.

If you knew Mike, you knew how deeply he loved his family. There was nothing that brought him more joy than making them laugh. He had a gift for turning ordinary moments into memories. He’d crank up the music and break into dance moves that had everyone laughing, or serenade his wife and kids with “Duckies in the Wind”—his unforgettable rendition of “Dust in the Wind,” complete with a Donald Duck voice and plenty of quacking.

Mike was completely adored by his grandkids. He was very involved in their life and he was their biggest cheerleader. He always showed up to their games, performances, and school projects. And his cheers were always the loudest. He coached his son’s and grandsons’ lacrosse teams, taught his grandkids how to play the piano and guitar, and helped them with movie projects. He will be missed tremendously by his 11 grandkids: Ali, Korver, Max, Peyton, Sadie, Summer, Milly, Nick, Emma, Jack and Connor.

Mike was welcomed home to Heaven by his parents and his Mother-in-law and Father-in-law, Joan and Howard Bingham.

Michael is survived by his sweetheart, Janet, and his children Brooke (Todd), Mickey, Michelle (Chad) and Scott along with his 11 grandkids.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 2 at the Harvest Park Church Building, 1068 S. 1600 W. Mapleton, Utah at 11am. The Visitations will be held at the Harvest Park Church Building on Wednesday, July 1st from 6:00 until 8:00 pm and prior to the services on Thursday July 2 from 9:45 to 10:45 am. Please enter the church building through the South doors. Burial will be in the Mapleton Cemetery.

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11 Condolences for Michael Lewis George Schaertl

Condolences(11)

Ellie Bodine Turlington says

June 29, 2026 at 6:35 pm

Mike was such a dear friend and I have some of the fondest memories of him and our Summers spent at RJYC with our friends. He will always be the big brother I never had. I love you, Mike! Say Hi to my Dad for me.

Michele Gefell says

June 29, 2026 at 6:50 pm

I am a friend of Mike’s sister, Chris. I will always remember how fun, talented, and kind Mike was – and so handsome! Growing up, Mike was the older brother Chris looked up to, and who we all admired. May he rest in peace, and may peace be with his loved ones; family and friends all.

Jayne Good Dannecker says

June 30, 2026 at 12:33 am

My condolences to Mike’s family. I am good friends with his Sister Linda, we spent many summers hanging out at RJYC.i have fond memories.
RIP Mike

Kaelene says

June 30, 2026 at 12:51 am

Our heart felt thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. deepest sympathies. Matt and Kaelene Midgley.

Ryan Behunin says

June 30, 2026 at 6:57 am

I loved Mike and interestingly he popped into my mind days ago. I loved working with Michael during my years at Redman and Moving Pictures. He was always a ray of light, humor and genuine kindness. He lived the gospel and we all knew where he stood. I’m saddened to see of his passing still so young. Dave and Kent also great men are joyed to reunite, I’m sure. Eternal friends. My condolences for the family.

Susan and Frank Siddoway says

June 30, 2026 at 5:52 pm

Janet and family, we have such wonderful memories of Mike. His personality was welcoming and warm, full of fun and humor. We loved knowing all of you in Springville and Mapleton. Holly and the twins were friends of Brook and Mikey. He will be missed. Such a good, kind man. Sending much love to all of you. ❤️

Chad Carr says

July 2, 2026 at 4:00 pm

I count myself very fortunate to have known and worked with Mike on several occasions. He always had my back on set, stood up for me when it mattered, and brought a level of professionalism, positivity, and dedication to every shoot he was part of. Mike was truly one of the best in the business, and his presence made every production better. I will genuinely miss him and am grateful for the opportunity I had to work alongside him.

Rob Marks says

July 2, 2026 at 9:27 pm

I’m a big fan of Mike Schaertl but unfortunately never got to meet him. As a young kid I lived in Seneca Falls, NY, and my sister Shelly was a friend of Mike’s at Mynderse High School.

He worked with some of my favorite actors Mickey Rourke, Anthony Hopkins, Mimi Rogers and Kelly Lynch on the Michael Cimino film I love called Desperate Hours (1990). He self-directed one of my favorite 80’s movies called High School Spirits (1986), and I’m sure he knew the actress friend I grew up with in Geneva, NY after Seneca Falls, Lauren Holly, as they both worked on the huge hit Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey. Some of his movies are on Tubi, so everyone can watch the great work he accomplished. I’ll definitely be watching his final film Dark Highway that he had just completed.

I’ve been telling everyone I know all week about Mike and will continue to do so. My condolences go out to Mike’s family, please know he reached a lot of people like me who never got the chance to meet him, and his legacy will live on forever.

Rob Marks Mexico, New York

Julie Dockter says

July 2, 2026 at 11:41 pm

Janet, we were in Colorado and watched the funeral on line. What a wonderful tribute to Mike! We love you and your family! We’re so sad he had to go home so soon, but I picture him enjoying the peace and love of God! I’m sure he will be watching over you and his kids and grandkids. What a wonderful father and husband he exemplified. Lots of love to each of you!!!

Shelly Marks says

July 3, 2026 at 8:19 am

Mike was a classmate of mine at Mynderse in Seneca Falls NY and always remembered as the class clown coming up from behind you with his Donald Duck voice-we always knew he would go far in life! Mike was kind, loving, fun, generous-all you could want in a friend! He will be sorely missed and forever loved-we will keep laughing for you Mike!!!

Katie Agle says

July 10, 2026 at 11:18 pm

I’m sorry to hear of Mikes passing. He was such a fun, kind man. When I was a teenager, he still treated me like an adult—always respectful, interested, and inclusive! I know my Dad loved him and hopefully they are having a bit of a reunion on the other side.

Michael Lewis George Schaertl April 2, 1957 - June 25, 2026

11 Condolences for Michael Lewis George Schaertl