Cole Tyler Michaelis

October 27, 1982 ~ July 5, 2026

Born in: Casper, WY
Resided in: New Braunfels, TX

Cole was born October 27, 1982 in Casper, Wyoming to Tarry and Brenda Michaelis, and lived on Casper Mountain for the first three and half years of his life. He was a true mountain kid who quickly took to climbing pine trees in the summertime and building tipis, and in the wintertime skiing the slopes with his Uncle and taking sled rides with his baby brother Jesse to get in and out of their Crimson Dawn home. Family pets included Buckwheat their cat, and Sundance and Rocky their raccoons.

Eventually the family moved to town, and with the addition of his new baby sister Whitney, they made their home on Tanager Street – where Cole’s family and friends created many fond and colorful memories, including playing Winnie the Pooh sticks from the bridge over the creek at their neighborhood park, and roller-skating or bicycling in their idyllic neighborhood. Many days Cole and his siblings would cross the road to wait for the train to drive by so they could compel the conductor to toot his horn – which he always did.

Cole met his best friend Todd in Kindergarten and they remained devoted friends until Todd’s passing in 2013.

Cole was a quick learner and shrewd student throughout his life and sought additional scholastic stimulation because he became easily bored with the classic education system. Cole excelled in reading, science and math. Around third grade Cole found his love for singing after his successful audition with the Casper Children’s Choral, which later developed into adult acapella concerts and barber-shop quartet events (he was the one with the blue hair in a sea of white-haired men).

Around 1993 Cole and his family were adopted by a Lakota family through a traditional Hunkapi ceremony. Cole quickly learned the traditional songs from his new Uncle and sang his little heart out during ceremony. Cole remained close with his Hunka throughout his life.

With guidance and instruction by his father, Cole was a successful fisherman and hunter, also proficient in firearms and archery – winning First place in Archery in the Wyoming State Games in 1997. Through his mother’s example, Cole also found a love for plants and herbs which instinctively developed into a Master Gardner’s certificate, a lifelong green-thumb (18 Blue Ribbons at the Tillamook State Fair) and an abundance of harvests that family and friends ate and appreciated over the years. Whether it was a perfect marinara sauce with garlic or brook-trout cooked over the campfire, Cole was a skilled and passionate cook inspired by the culinary arts of different cultures as well as specific family members. When appropriate, Cole would also pick the perfect wine to compliment his dishes – a love he learned from and shared with his favorite Aunt.

Cole was passionate in everything he pursued and highly successful in most goals he set. He was known to be intensely expressive in most things he did – be it his artwork, his spirituality, and even his tattoos. Cole was also an avid golfer whether he was having tee-time with his uncles in California or helping his dear friend in Washington host Veteran’s fund-raiser tournaments in which he received awards.

Around 2005 Cole received his CNA from the University of Wyoming; around 2010 he worked in directional drilling in the oilfields of Wyoming and Utah; around 2012 he moved to Tillamook, OR where he helped build a highly successful farm and greenhouse business; in 2018 he passed the Oregon State Realtors exam; in 2022 he passed the Washington State Realtors exam; and in 2023 he passed the Texas State Realtors exam.

All who knew Cole saw his flame shine the brightest and the hottest during his time as one of the top-notch and highly sought after real estate agents in the Pacific Northwest. Abundant testimonials describe Cole as an extremely knowledgeable, accommodating and communicative agent while transforming the intimidation of the real estate process into a warm and low-pressure experience tailored to his client’s needs, desires and future plans. During this time Cole received accolades as the “Best of Zillow”. Cole was an exceptional agent with his natural and seemingly effortless ability to turn a complicated process into a warm and personable experience. Many of Cole’s clients and associates became life-long, treasured friends.

In 2022 Cole married his wife Caroline and together they moved to her hometown in Texas. Awaiting the arrival of their baby, Cole pursued his real estate career in Texas and expanded his realtor skill set with aerial drone photogrammetry, and AI-driven marketing strategies. It was truly amazing to see what he could do with this technology – his videos are still available at https://www.youtube.com/@3dprofessionalmediagroupllc.

With the help of his wife, Cole’s greatest work of art and love was born –their daughter Violet, who will always remain the apple of his eye and the angel of his heart.

Quite recently Cole was pursuing a degree as a surgical technology assistant. As usual, he excelled in his studies, was regularly on the Dean’s Honor Roll and had been offered and accepted a membership in the Lamplighter’s program. Cole was due to graduate in April 2027 and had hopes of moving his family to Washington to begin his medical career.

Cole was larger than life in everything he did and pursued. His presence and gifts to this world will be acutely and sadly missed for a very long time. In death he joins his paternal Grandfather, maternal Grandparents, several more relatives, and of course, his best friend Todd.