Michael William Wyneken

Michael William Wyneken, age 69, passed away in his home in Okatie (Beaufort), South Carolina on April 11, 2024, in the presence of his loving wife, Shery, and his loving sister, Karen.



His passage was unexpected and sudden due to a heart attack while he slept. Shery and Mike had just moved into a new home in the exotic South Carolina Lowcountry. They were busy decorating their beautiful, pond-side house and making plans for an exciting new chapter in their lives.



Mike led a life filled with the love of family and the outdoors. He was an avid sailor, loved hiking, but his fondest activity was in the kitchen or at the backyard grill/smoker as an amazing chef. He loved hosting sumptuous dinners for friends and family, and each event was eagerly awaited by everyone.



Mike grew up in Ft. Wayne, Indiana with his parents, Don and Susan Wyneken, and his sister, Karen. Their idyllic summers were always spent at Lake Michigan, swimming, fishing, sailing, and living fully. He graduated from Southside High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana and went on to receive his bachelor's and master's degrees from Indiana University.



Mike moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1994 to help care for a dying friend. Such was his caring nature. He loved Tucson and decided to remain there where he became a City Planner. He had a very successful career, making many life-long attachments. One of those attachments began when he walked into a bagel bakery in August of 2000 and met the love of his life, Shery Kase. Both had been married before and were surprised to find such a strong, immediate attraction. They married in May 2001 and were inseparable.



Mike retired in 2017; Shery, shortly thereafter. They both loved the South Carolina Lowcountry, having been introduced to the area by Shery's son, Matt. They moved there in January of this year and were happily discovering all the beauty and activities their new home had to offer.



Mike leaves behind his loving wife of 23 years, Shery; his devoted sister, Karen (who was his rock and vice versa); his two stepsons, Matthew Kase and Michael Kase (and his wife, Cristie); his sister- and brother-in-law, Jan and George Goldman; and his brother-in-law, Mike Sloan (and his two children, Kelsey and Connor). Mike is also survived by his beloved uncle and aunt, Tom and Gretchen Collingwood; his cousins, Andy Collingwood and Jenny (Collingwood) Chavez; and their respective children, Theresa, Alan, and Sean Collingwood, and Milo and Eliza Chavez. We are close-knit families who loved Mike dearly and will miss him for the rest of our lives. He also leaves many friends who have wonderful memories of their friend, Michael (Bones) Wyneken.



Everyone who met Mike immediately liked him and counted him as a friend. Such was his character: loving, generous, engaging, funny and fun-loving. He was a truly remarkable and deeply loved man. He will always be in our hearts.



A memorial will be held in Peachtree City, Georgia this Summer. Please check Michael Wyneken's Facebook page for details in the next few weeks.