Mike Dillinger

The past two years have been difficult for all of us, some more than others. For Mike Dillinger, of Bloomburg, COVID wasn’t just a scary inconvenience – it was tragic.

On October 29, 2020 his wife, Karen, passed away from COVID, only eight days from being diagnosed. Mike was on the phone with 911 when she stopped breathing.

“She had been quarantined in the bedroom, and every morning I would fix her breakfast and see if she needed anything before I left for work. That morning she said she didn’t feel right and wanted to go to the ER. Then she told me to call 911,” he recalled. “While I was on the phone I watched her eyes roll back in her head…I gave her CPR until the ambulance got there, but they pronounced her dead.”

Karen had no previous diagnosis or underlying illness that might have exacerbated the virus. She and her family believed her to be a healthy woman in her forties who thrived as a wife, stepmother and Branch Manager of the First National Bank of Bloomburg – which she could see from her living room window.

“It’s tough to go through alone. We didn’t have a service due to COVID. We cremated her, then I was quarantined for 14 days,” Mike recalled. “I didn’t get it (the virus) even though I gave her CPR.”

It was a month later when he was able to hold a memorial for Karen, with only a few family and friends present. The service was held in the backyard entertainment area Karen and he worked together to build.

While mourning his wife and spending all of his time alone due to the quarantine, he developed a habit of riding around all night to escape the confines of his house.

“I am a social person – I missed my wife, I missed my students, my sons - I missed people,” Mike said. “At night nobody sees me out riding around, I didn’t have to answer questions. It was the best way for me to deal with it.”

Once he was able to return to his job as director of the Alternative Education Center for Queen City ISD, he allayed his grief and loneliness by burying himself in work. Because he is also certified as a math instructor, the district asked him to fill in for a teacher that resigned.

Having two positions has kept Mike running, but not so busy that he hasn’t had time for his side gig as the owner of 4D Fishing, which he started in September 2019. He designs and makes fishing lures and markets them himself.

Mike also attends and hosts local fishing tournaments, as well as helping the Atlanta High School fishing team. Last year he was present at 16 tournaments – eight high school events, seven ArkLaTex Bassmasters events, and one national tournament.

This year Mike is developing a “frog only” fishing tournament with three legs: Caddo Lake in April, Lake Wright Patman in June; and Lake ‘O The Pines in September.

He has also found a way to combine his love of fishing, kids and Jesus into a 3-day Fishing With Faith camp he holds at Lakeview Baptist Assembly in Lone Star. Local professional anglers Brad Whatley, Dick LaBrun and Clay Dyer have given demonstrations and the kids learn about casting, electronic aids and tournament fishing. Camp attendees also attend a nightly worship service, held by Mike’s home church – First Baptist Church of Queen City.

“Jesus was a fisher of men, so I can talk about Jesus while I demonstrate making a jig,” Mike said. “Life threw me a curve ball, so I used everything Karen taught me about volunteering and giving back to the community to come up with this. It’s my way to honor her legacy of helping.”

This year his Fishing with Faith camp for kids in 7th to 12th grade is scheduled for July 5-7, and keynote speakers include professional anglers Clay Dyer and Jeff Gage. You can find more information about all tournaments on his website: www.4Dfishing. org.

At the time of her death, Karen and Mike had been married four years. Mike has two sons from a previous marriage: Carson, 18, is a senior at Atlanta High School; and Jackson, 15 is a sophomore at AHS. Mike is also on the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a member of the Atlanta Area Rotary Club.

Another project Mike is working on is the first Cass County Outdoor Expo to be held September 24 at the Mattie Richey Center in Atlanta.

“We will have all sorts of fishing and hunting vender booths, demonstrations, activities, boat dealers, kids activities and seminars,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting!”