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David Michael Oehler |
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January 2, 1938 ~ February 2, 2016 |
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February 20, 2016 |
 David
Michael Oehler, a writer, back-to-the-land
hippy, and a pioneer of underground housing and
earth-sheltered greenhouses died Tuesday,
February 2, 2016, at age 78, of natural causes
at his home near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
Mike was born January 2, 1938, in Chicago to
Chet and Pauline Oehler. He grew up in Wilmette,
Illinois, along with his three sisters,
Patricia, Gretchen and Sioux. After graduating
from New Trier High School, he dropped out of
college to pursue his writing career. He served
in the U.S. Army before making his way to the
West Coast where he worked as a crew member on
fishing boats, worked in the Alaska goldmines,
hired on with the U.S. Forest Service, cruised
Mexico, and finally ended up in San Francisco
where he embraced the hippy movement and
lifestyle.
From there, he bought 46 acres in northern
Idaho, around 1970, where he started
experimenting with underground and
earth-sheltered housing. Mike always accepted
volunteers who helped with his building
projects, plus learned organic gardening,
permaculture, and off-the-grid living. Mike was
close to finishing his one-of-a-kind,
earth-integrated home he called the “Ridge
House” at the time of his death.
At the same time, he continued with his
writings, earning international attention with
his books, “The $50 & Up Underground House Book”
and “The Earth-Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book.”
He lectured or conducted workshops in Canada,
England, Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Germany and 26 American states, frequently under
the sponsorship of university architecture
departments. He is the veteran of more than 100
radio and television interviews, including HGTV
and the BBC. Mike had just finished his latest
book “How to Make a Hippy,” due for release
later this year. He was also the author of “The
Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K” and “One Mexican
Sunday,” and creator of the videos “The Low-Cost
Underground House Workshop and Survival Shelter
Seminar Video Set” and “The Battle of Seattle.”
More information about his life’s work can be
found at www.undergroundhousing.com.
Mike was preceded in death by his father Chet,
his mother Polly and his sister Gretchen. He is
survived by his sister Pat (Tony) Tiverios and
his sister Sioux (Jerry) McLane; his niece Alex
Clemow and nephews Mike (Eva) Tiverios and Peter
(Lisa) Tiverios; and several great nieces and
nephews.
No services are planned. However, a celebration
of his life at a later date to be announced will
be held at his Ridge House. Memorial donations
may be made to charities of the donor’s choice.
Condolences and memories of Mike may be
forwarded to Alex Clemow, P.O. Box 6003,
Missoula, Montana 59806 or e-mail
alextgrt@aol.com. |
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