Michael Wedemeyer's Obituary
Michael Kevin Wedemeyer
Resident of Fremont, CA
November 1, 1965 – February 10, 2020
Mike passed away and went to be with the lord on the morning of February 10, 2020 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Mike was born on Monday November 1, 1965 in San Francisco California. His early years were spent growing up in Pacifica California. Later Mike moved to Utah with his parents Helga and Mike. They lived in Salt Lake City and eventually settled in Tooele Utah where Mike played on the high school football team. During these years Mike spent time with his California siblings Rick, Randy and Kim who made annual Summer visits to Utah.
After high school graduation, he joined the US Air Force. He said he wanted to “see the world” and he did. He saw the world of Hobbs, New Mexico where he spent his entire enlistment on the Cannon Air force base. Mike was trained as an avionics systems specialist and he received an honorable discharge on April 18, 1988. While in the Air Force he earned the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the Air Force Training Ribbon.
After discharge from the Air Force Mike moved back to California where he spent the rest of his life. There he took up residence with his older brother Rick in Cupertino California. For Mike this was a monumental change for him after growing up in the desert of Utah and New Mexico. He soon embraced the California lifestyle. He developed friendships and soon found work initially as a pizza delivery man and then started as a repair technician for copiers, printers and the old fax machines. This was his calling for the rest of his life, and he continued this work up until a few months before his death.
As the late 1990s turned into the 21st century, Mike began spending more time with Rick and his wife Susie and their children as they grew their family from three to six in a short span of five years. Mike was a “great” uncle to his niece Chelsea and his nephews Ethan, Shane and Aaron. He always joined them on annual camping trips to the High Sierra, and frequently accompanied them on many weekend day trips throughout the Bay Area and California. Mike was at baseball games, basketball games, soccer matches, and an occasional swim meet. He was at all the birthday celebrations, Christmas, Easter and all the official and non-official holidays and events. Mike was a part of Elisabeth and Walter Rhiner’s lives, and he made a point to spend time with Elisabeth after Walter’s passing many years ago.
Mike was known for the attention he gave to helping others. He gave when he had nothing to give. He would drive disabled homeless veterans to the VA for their appointments. Mike often gave the little money he had to folks who had nothing to eat. He would ride a bus near and far to be with another human being who just needed someone to be there. He was a giving person.
Mike is survived by his parents Helga and Michael Ward of Bend, Oregon; His brother Rick (Susie), his niece Chelsea and nephews Ethan, Shane and Aaron of Santa Clara, CA; brother Randy (Shauna) of Sandy, Utah, along with niece and Nephews Nikki, Matt, Brooks and Dallin of Utah, Nevada and Virginia; and his sister Kim Ward of Grass valley, CA.
Thank you to all the staff at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital. Especially to Dr. Allyson Spence, and the staff in the Interventional radiology clinic. Finally, a great “awesome” for the doctors, nurses and staff of the hospice unit 4A who did an unbelievable job of caring for our brother, son, uncle and friend during his seven days in their care.
Michael Kevin Wedemeyer will be laid to rest at Skylawn Memorial cemetery on Friday March 13, 2020 at 11 am. A celebration of life will follow immediately after the burial service. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation who specialize in the study of breast cancer in men. They can be found at bcrf.org
What’s your fondest memory of Michael?
What’s a lesson you learned from Michael?
Share a story where Michael's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Michael you’ll never forget.
How did Michael make you smile?
