Michael Lawrence Pincenti, 65, passed away on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Viewing will be held on Monday, December 20, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakeview Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Hollis Stewart officiating. Military honors and burial will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint.

Michael was born on March 22, 1956, to Richard and Myrna Pincenti in Chicago, Illinois. When Michael was six years old, they moved to Simi Valley, California, where he graduated high school. Michael then served his country in the United States Marine Corps.

He met the love of his life, Rose Pincenti, and they were married in Elko, Nevada on November 6, 1977. Together, they moved to Bellflower and Downey, where Michael worked as a sign painter. In 1989, Mike and Rose moved to Sandpoint, and ran two businesses together for over 30 years; Panhandle Painting, and Rose’s Exotic Bird’s and Supplies.

Michael was a dependable friend, a teacher to many, a loving father to his children and his grandchildren. He had a passion for life and music, cooking (Italian food and noodles in particular), traveling, gambling, antiquing, hiking and berry picking! He enjoyed many things in life as long as Rose was right beside him, holding his hand.

When Michael was first diagnosed with cancer, he said that his time wasn’t up yet. He had more chords to strum, places to play, and days to spend with his love. He held her hand and said that his family dances to the beat of a different drum, and he would not stop dancing.

The rhythm that our hearts will continue to beat to is one of his creation. He was a rock and roll man; a pillar of strength and support for his family and all those people he helped in his time. He was always the one to lighten the mood with a well-placed joke, rolling us all along through the hard times.

Though today we are missing his laugh, his embrace, the way he always smelled a little bit like paint and cigarettes, and the mischievous twinkle that was his spirit shining through his eyes, we can picture him sitting by the lake in a straw hat with a fishing pole, strumming away on his guitar; and know that his spirit remains with us, for as long as our hearts beat to its rhythm.

Michael is survived by a large family, who in his last hours he spoke of being so proud of, and the pride in ‘this beautiful family they had made’ was a comfort to him. His wife Rose Pincenti of Sandpoint, ID; his mother Myrna Budelis of Newport, WA; his son Mike Pincenti Jr. (Shelissa) of Boise, ID; his daughter Cindy Pincenti of Astoria, OR; his son Daniel Pincenti (Angela) of Spokane, WA; his daughter Anna Meyers (Andrew), of Sandpoint, ID; and daughter Elizabeth Kitelinger (David) of Sandpoint, ID. As well as his brother William Pincenti, and two sisters; Rita and Julie Pincenti. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren- Erika Pincenti, Trista Parker, Ashley and Kaley Murphy (Meyers), Kyle Pincenti, Jacob Pincenti, Marian Joy, Gabe Buckmaster, Jesse and Natalie Kitelinger, Libby Pincenti, and four great-grandchildren.

In his last days he would look up to a painting of three crosses that hung on the wall, and say that he was ready to go home. He is preceded in death by his father and step-father, Richard Pincenti and Raymond Budelis; and his granddaughter Alice Marie Buckmaster.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Michael’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.