Michael Charles Gerschefski

Michael Charles “Mike” Gerschefski was born to Edwin Otto Gerschefski and Ina Magnuson Gerschefski in Mary Black Hospital, Spartanburg, South Carolina on March 8, 1945. He spent most of his childhood years in Spartanburg before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico for one year, then finished his high school and college years in Athens, Georgia. At the University of Georgia, Mike completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in music education, then finished his formal education by completing an Education Specialist post-graduate degree.

Mike began his teaching career in 1970 as a high school band director and music teacher at Towns County High School in Hiawassee, Georgia. In 1977 he moved to North Pole, Alaska where he continued his career as a middle school band teacher at North Pole Middle School. He finished his career by establishing and teaching the computer science program at North Pole Middle School. He retired from public school teaching in 1997 and eventually returned to live in Hiawassee.

Mike had many hobbies and interests. He had a prodigious ability to recite movie trivia, historical anecdotes, and geographical factoids. He loved hunting, fishing, boating and camping with friends, especially during his Alaskan years. He had many hiking adventures. He even had bit parts in major motion pictures. And Mike could play on the piano, from memory, an enormous and varied repertoire of classical and popular music. His tendency to play an impromptu medley on a restaurant, hotel lobby, or cruise ship piano would draw happy applause from those in attendance.

Among younger family members and friends Mike is regarded as “the most interesting man in the world”. During the time he spent with them he entertained them with tales of his travels, grizzly ghost stories, humorous observations, bad puns and intentional malapropisms. And of course, he taught music to many of them. His impact on them has been immeasurable.

But as much as anything else, Mike will be remembered as an avid traveler. He traveled frequently his entire adult life, visiting 48 countries and every continent except Antarctica. He was a student of international cultures and learned history, language phrases, and geographical superlatives of the places he visited. Not only did Mike take his U.S. friends along with him on his journeys, he also made many international friends that he corresponded and visited with frequently. They in turn would often visit him in the U.S.

One special international friend from Russia became the love of Mike’s life. In 2002 Mike met Marina Krasnorutskaia in Kona, Hawaii, and their romance grew with time. Their relationship lasted 23 years and they became inseparable. 

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Ina Magnuson Gerschefski, his father, Edwin Otto Gerschefski, and his brother, Peter Edwin Gerschefski. 

In addition to Marina Krasnorutskaia (Sochi, Russia), Mike is survived by sisters JoEllen  Gerschefski Wade (Carol Diamond) (Candler, NC) and Martha Gerschefski (Clint Schaum) (Inman, SC), brother John Gerschefski (Jean) (Orrs Island, ME), and sister-in-law Sheri Melton (Peter) (Maggie Valley, NC).

It was Mike’s request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church building fund (50 Marvin Cabe Lane, Hayesville, NC, 28904).

Visitation: Thursday; May 29, 2025 12:00-2:00 at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church in Hayesville, North Carolina 

Funeral: Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 2:00  Mt Pleasant Baptist Church in Hayesville, North Carolina