Michael Dean Willhite

Michael D. Willhite, age 49 of Sauk Centre, died Friday, January 8, 2010 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 13 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Tim Wenzel officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Michael Dean Willhite was born May 30, 1960 in Olivia, Minnesota to Hugo and Dorothy (Herdina) Willhite. Mike graduated from Sanborn High School in 1979, where he met his future wife, Renee Saffert. In November of 1980, the couple moved to Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Mike and Renee were married on May 16, 1981 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Sanborn, Minnesota. Several years after high school, Mike attended St. Cloud Technical College for the two year automotive program. Mike was most recently employed by the Truckers Inn in Sauk Centre. He loved helping people and was the eternal optimist. Mike enjoyed camping, working on cars, going for coffee, eating anything (especially fudge), and providing jail ministry with REC (Residents Encountering Christ). Mike was very proud of his family especially his girls and he loved being "Papa Mike" and playing with his grandsons.Mike was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Mike is survived by his wife of 28 years, Renee Willhite of Sauk Centre; daughters, Naomi (Gerald) Holdvogt of Sauk Centre, Miranda (Scott) Thomes of Paynesville, Natasha Willhite of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Mikaela Willhite of Sauk Centre; grandsons, Ryan Thomes and Brooks Holdvogt; mother, Dorothy Willhite of Litchfield; brothers and sisters, Dwayne (Pat) Willhite of Panama City, Florida, Miles (Darlene) Willhite of Hutchinson, Joyce (Gene) Carpenter of Milford, Iowa, Bryant Willhite of North Redwood, Barbara (Dean) Scheer of Bellview, Ronald (Mary Papenfuss) Willhite of Hutchinson, Kathy (David) Koglin of Darwin, and Brenda (Randy) Norcott of Hutchinson; brother-in-law, Dan Wellnitz; and many nieces and nephews. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Hugo Willhite; brother, Charles Willhite; sister, Marilyn Wellnitz; angel daughter Francesca; and two angel grandchildren. Serving as casket bearers will be Gerald Holdvogt, Scott Thomes, Lowell Helgeson, Nathaniel Koglin, Brian Collins, Dallas Hamilton, and Joseph Saffert.Cross bearers will be his grandsons, Ryan Thomes and Brooks Holdvogt. Scripture bearer will be his brother, Ron Willhite. Honorary casket bearers will be the Truck Stop Employees and the Central Minnesota REC Family.