Michael Lee Stackfleth

Michael Lee Stackfleth passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2024 after a long battle with neuroendocrine cancer. Through this long and arduous journey, his faith in God gave him comfort and strength. Mike was born in Manhatton, Kansas. He was the eldest son of Ellis Lee Stackfleth and Gloria Lynch Stackfleth.

In 1968, Mike enlisted in the military. There he trained with Army Special Forces. He served in Vietnam as an officer and Green Beret. He received numerous honors including 2 purple hearts, a bronze star, a bronze star oak leaf cluster for multiple recognitions, and an Army Commendation Medal Award, having saved the lives of many of the men that he led.

Upon leaving the military he attended the University of Buffalo. There he married his wife, Christine. While in Buffalo he developed a love for the Buffalo Bills and became an avid Bills fan, attending all their home games.

In 1983 the family moved to Orlando Florida and Mike ran an audio-visual business with his brother-in-law and father. He always believed in treating his employees like family and fostered many wonderful relationships which endured through his retirement.

He adored his three daughters and proudly embraced every opportunity to attend their sporting events. He delighted in planning multiple family trips which continued through retirement. A favorite annual vacation was going to New Smyrna Beach where he fished with his family, relished in watching sea turtles hatch, played golf with his son in laws and spent quality time with his friends and family whom he cherished. He was thrilled to finally have two son in laws who shared his love of golfing, fishing, hunting, and shooting sporting clays. He treasured every opportunity to get together with his family and took special joy in spending time with his grandchildren.

In 2016, after retiring, Mike and his wife moved to Big Canoe, GA, a lovely mountain community where they could enjoy the natural beauty of the area. They developed close friendships within the community and enjoyed getting together for a glass of wine, a game of Canasta, Bocce Ball or just great conversation.

Mike was an exceptional marksman, winning the New York State Combat Pistol Championship and numerous awards in sporting clays competitions. He was a member of the All-American Georgia State Sporting Clays Team.

Mike’s life was a testament of his love for his family, his faith, his friends and his country. Mike is survived by his wife, Christine, his children, Robin Leese, Kristen Stackfleth and Jill French, his beloved son in-laws, Brandon Leese and Courtney French, his grandchildren Wyatt, Hadley and Charlotte Leese and Shiloh French, his sisters Ann Woodbury and husband Roger, Patricia Duche, and brother Christopher Stackfleth and wife Maureen. Also surviving are Sister in law Deborah Kosciolek, niece Katie and Nick deJong and their children Verona and Alex, nephew Joseph Kosciolek and niece Amy Woodbury.

The viewing will be held on Sunday, September 22 nd from 5-7 pm at the Canton Funeral home located at 10655 east Cherokee Drive, Canton GA 30115. Funeral Service will be on September 23rd at 11am at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Jasper GA. Burial will be at the GA National Cemetery at 2:30pm on September 24th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation  at https://dogood.t2t.org/campaign/in-memory-of-michael-stackfleth/c620837 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.