Michael M. "Mike" Vance

1951 - 2011

Michael "Mike" M. Vance, 59, of Manitowoc, Wis., died Wednesday morning, Aug. 31, 2011, at a Green Bay, Wis., medical center. Celebration of life: 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc, Wis. He was born Sept. 16, 1951, in Houston, son of William S. Vance Sr. and the late Lee Mariman Vance. Mike attended Southern Methodist University on a football scholarship and graduated from Texas Wesleyan College. After working at the School for the Deaf in Austin, he attended Southwest Texas University where he received a master's degree in clinical psychology. He moved to Manitowoc, Wis., in 1989 and later opened Phoenix Behavior Services where he was part owner and therapist. On July 16, 2010, he married the former Darla Rusmisel in Manitowoc. Although he remained a transplanted Texan, Mike loved the small town atmosphere and people of Manitowoc. For Mike, the last two years of courtship and marriage to Darla filled him with love, laughter and life. He will be deeply missed by all those who love him. Survivors: His beloved wife, Darla Vance; his father, William Vance Sr.; brothers and sisters-in-law, William S. and Donna Vance Jr., David and Vivian Vance; sister and brother-in-law, Kathryn and Gary Pennington; stepchildren he claimed as his own, Leslie (Mike), Sean, Trevor, Carly; adored granddaughter, Shelby; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.