Michael Francis Wiese

Hydrogeologist, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and avid recycler Michael Francis Wiese (aka Mike Wiese, D, Di Di 7, Michael Recycle, MFW, MikeGyver, Bayba, Jampa), age 59, of Tempe, Arizona passed away March 11, 2022. Mike was born in Norfolk, Nebraska on January 25, 1963, to Frank and Kathy Wiese.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years Leslyn Wiese (60), his children Chelsea Monty (38), Alix Monty (36) and her partner Jack Maverick, Lenox Wiese (30), Max Wiese (28) and daughter-in-law Sam Wiese (26), Getamesay Wiese (27), Laxmi Wiese (22), and Prakash Wiese (21), his grandchildren Aurora Porter (15) and Iris Porter (11), and his siblings Tim Wiese, Lisa Wiese, and Kathy Kirby.

St Francis of Assisi was the patron saint of the environment and animals and Mike’s namesake. Mike loved animals and they loved him back. He knew every dog in the neighborhood, all their names and where they lived. He was a renaissance man with a brilliant mind. He loved to cook, eat, socialize, and travel. He cared deeply for his community. He talked to everyone and got to know people quickly, inviting them over for dinner, giving them money or food or helping them fix their air conditioner. He had a generous heart and gave his time and love freely. He’d stay up all-night with you dancing, joking, drinking Miller High Life and still be the first one up in the morning to help you clean. He might hide an easter egg full of cat poop inside your house, but he would also finish your flooring project while you were on vacation. He was a perfectionist in all he did, and no project was finished until it met his standard.

He loved his family and was proud of all they did. His kids and grandkids will miss him for so many reasons including his chicken salad, his enchiladas, his onion pie, and his smoked ribs.  

A remembrance party will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers or food, please give money to an unhoused person or a charity that supports people experiencing homelessness, help someone out- even if it is inconvenient, or say hello to a stranger. If you live in the Hudson Manor neighborhood, hang something on the Giving Tree, or just be a little kinder.