Michael Brendon Rainer's Obituary
SSG Michael "Mike" Rainer passed away peacefully at home on March 28, 2026 after more than a decade of battling Huntington's Disease.
SSG Rainer was born December 28, 1966 in Long Beach, California. He moved to Eastern Washington as a child, but his family settled in Tacoma, WA (where he remained a life-long resident) during his junior high school years. SSG Rainer's family moved in next door to Diann Rainer (nee Burnham) with whom he shared a 38-year marriage and three children.
Mike enlisted in the US Army at age 17 and was very proud of his 20 years of service to his country. He was a military policeman who valued integrity and justice. His first six years in the army were followed by civilian life while serving in the Army Reserves.
After 9/11, SSG Rainer re-enlisted to active duty. His time in the army took him all over the world, including deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, South Korea, and Panama. He was especially proud of his deployment with the 101st Airborne 'Screaming Eagles'.
He suffered from traumatic brain injuries during his deployments, and also developed PTSD. At the end of his tenure in the army, he became a part of the Wounded Warriors Battalion, helping other soldiers wounded during their service to transition out of the military. The wounded warriors even sponsored a trip to Lourdes, France for Mike and his family to celebrate soldiers from around the world and pray for healing.
Mike was also a special-needs parent and had a unique and sweet relationship with his Autistic adult son.
He is preceded in death by his sister Elizabeth "Liz", mother Kathryn "Kitty" (both of whom succumbed to HD, as well) and his beloved grandparents, Elizabeth and Paul.
He is survived by father (Jerry), step-mothers (Nat and Debbie), in-laws (Dick and Norma Jean), brothers (Steve, Jim, Jerome), sister (Jen), sister-in-law (Dana) loving wife (Diann), children, Kaylie, Connor, and Courtney and foster grandson Liam, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A drop-in visitation / viewing will be held for Mike on Saturday, April 11th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, WA. He will be buried in the Tahoma National VA cemetery in Kent alongside his brothers-in-arms on Monday, April 13th at 1 pm. Celebration of Life will be held on May 2: location and time TBD.
When asked to describe the two traits he valued most, Mike wrote: Bravery and Valor. Let us hold those two values in our hearts and honor Mike with our own bravery and courage.
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