I just found out about this and it's always tragic and surreal to know that someone you knew for so long will never be seen again. Mike was a great guy (who can forget some of those off-color one-liners?!) After I relocated from Iowa City to Colorado in the mid 1980's, we kept in touch regularly as he and his family would visit every year to go skiing.

Lori,

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Please kow that you can lean on your MSDE "family" for comfort in your time of need.

RIP Mike.

Lori, My condolences to you and Mike's family and friends. I will pray that the Lord give you strength and peace to get through this difficult time.

Deepest sympathies and condolences to Mike's family.

We in the neighborhood will miss Mike's bright smile, and his big wave to all who passed by. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lori and both families during this sad time.

I just received the news now, and was very shocked to find out. I lived with Mike during my first year of school at Iowa. He was a great guy, and always a lot of fun. You could always count on Mike for a trip to the Sports Column every Friday. We lost touch over the years, but I know if I ever ran into him, he would be as friendly to me as he's always been. The world lost a good one.

I wanted to include my condolences to Lori and the Wiedemeier family. Mike and I were friends when I was in school in Iowa City. We lived only a block apart near the post office, and were in the U. of Iowa Ski Club together. I am proud to own some ski club t-shirts with his artwork on the back, and even prouder to have been a part of Mike and Lori's wedding in 2004. I was shocked and saddened to learn of his passing. I'll miss his humor and loyal friendship, and my thoughts are with his family.

Lori,

I pray that you look back on your time with Michael with fondness. He will continue to live on through the memories of those who love him.

Lori,

I am very sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Wanda and family I am so sorry for your loss. I remember how you talked about Mike and when he got married. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Sincerely Mike Annika and Hunter Kopf.

My thoughts and prayers are with Mike's family. Mike was an incredibly nice guy with a great sense of humor. He'll be missed.

Dear Lori,

I was so saddened to hear of your loss. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I only met Mike a couple of times, but I still remember meeting you for the first time down in Houston, as you were planning for your wedding and how excited you were to get married to this wonderful man on your families farm. Please let me know if I can help you in any possible way. Love, Teresa

From all of us at Gerard Electric, our thoughts and prayers are with Mike and his family at this time of sorrow.

Mike and I were locker partners during our sophomore year at City High School. We were just thrown together because our names were right next to each other in the alphabet. I was never in his close circle of friends, but it was almost more interesting to just observe his witty commentary about high school and to see his friends come looking for him to stir up trouble. He always had a laid back attitude and a joke about how to beat the system in high school.

Lori,

We were 5 when we began Kindergarten together, and I can honestly say Mike was one of the most unique and kind people I ever knew. He cared for his friends unconditionally. I'm so terribly sorry for his loss. My prayers go out to his family, may they know their tears are there because of their love and time spent with him.

I'm so sorry to hear of Mike's passing. My heart aches for Lori, Jerome and Wanda. Please know that you are all in my prayers. I share in your sorrow and hope you will find a peace that passes all understanding in time.

I'm so grateful I was able to come to Mike and Lori's beautiful wedding and also to see them again last thanksgiving. Living so far away it was fun to see Michael again (as an adult) as I still tend to think of him as that kid I used to play with at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Lori you are a sweet girl and you will get thru this. If I can be of any encouragement to you, please don't hesitate to contact me.

The Wiedemeier Family,

Jerome, Wanda and Lori.

Sorry to hear of your loss. It is hard to lose someone near and dear to your heart. What helped me when my mom passed away 3 years ago was you take one day at a time, you live for the memories and it shows your support system.

You are all in my thoughts and prayer. LIke I said I am very sorry to hear of your very sudden loss.

Mary Ann Nida (Pfab)

Dear Lori,

Words cannot express how I feel at this time. Please accept my sincerest condolences and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Ann

I met Mike through other IC friends in 1999 or so. What I remember most about him is that though he was this guy completely devoted to fitness, weightlifting, and sports, he was such a gentle and sensitive soul. He genuinely loved all his friends near and far and talked about them as if they were his own brothers and sisters. He will be missed.

When I think of Mike I always think of the first time I saw him. We lived on the corner of Friendship and Terrace and he and his parents lived 2 houses up the street. The first time I saw them is when he was riding his trike down the street, hair straigt up in the air and his head down. Right behind him was his Mom and Dad. (He never got to far away from them at that time!) He was the cutest little thing!!

Mike was a great guy and a good friend to so many of us that went to school with him. I'll always remember his fun, unique sense of humor and his smirky smile.

I met Mike 18 years ago; he was the first person I met moving to the Midwest. He was a great friend over the years and one of the most genuine people I've known. He will be missed dearly.

Mike was my closest friend in junior high. Although we lost touch for decades, I was thrilled when I reconnected on facebook. I remember playing golf with him almost every day one summer, playing with his first Apple computer, feeding his fish when he went on vacation with his family, and just hanging out. I remember once, in junior high, we tried to play hooky from school. On our way to school, we went back to his house and prepared to call in sick. We each planned to call in for the other. I called first and, in the lowest voice I could muster, told the secretary at South East that I was Mr. Wiedemeier. Well, everything was going well until I was asked to spell his last name. I froze, hung up, and looked at Mike who rolled his eyes. We hightailed it to school and signed in late as the secretary smirked at us. This is just one of many memories I will treasure.

Lori,

So sorry to hear of your husbands passing!

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Rande

I do not have the words to express the sorrow and sense of loss that I feel. Mike was my best friend for 30 years. We shared so many experiences and good times, choosing just one seems impossible to do justice to his memory. From grade school, junior high, high school, college and beyond; whether it be shooting hoops in his driveway, going to City High football games on Friday night, watching the Hawks on Saturday, playing golf at Pleasant Valley or having a beer at Joe's Place...I will cherish each memory forever.

He came from a good family and married into one as well. He had a good heart, a great sense of humor, worked hard and was a proud Hawkeye. He was always entertaining and just a good guy. He had personality traits that were truly his own which drew you in and you couldn't help but love the guy. He was the brother I never had. He will be missed in life but will forever live on in my memories.

Lori and family,

I met Mike through work. He was always fun to be around & made work seem more enjoyable. I remember on one job inparticular that we worked together on where the foreman & I didn't seem to be getting along. No matter what I did to try & make things right it seemed like I was just getting talked about more & more behind my back & being taken advantage of in the work place. Mike was one of the few people who stood up for me & made it known that what was happening wasn't right. I never forgot him for that & tried to make sure he knew it. If there were more people like Mike who did the right thing in this world it would be a much better place. Mike I can't thank you enough for having my back. I plan on passing on respect to the next person who may be in the shoes I once wore thanks to the example you've helped to provide. We all know the difference between right & wrong & Mike did the right thing in that circumstance. Love & Prayers to Mikes family & close friends he will be forever missed!

Mike and I went to City High's senior prom together. We had been friends for years and were both dateless for that night. He took pity on me and took me to the prom:) He looked so handsome in his black tuxedo and Stuart Foster, Heidi Busche, Mike, and I made a fun group of friends sharing a night of laughs. I am so very sorry for Mike's wife, friends, and family, He was truly a gentleman, a friend, and a good man.

Going to Hoover with Michael I have many memories of playing dodge ball and having classes with him. Two things that stick in my memory about Michael was that he had such an amazing ability to draw cartoon characters and he was an amazing skier! Jerrad Shultz and Michael were oft seen 'dropping in' from the lift itself, jumping down illegally to the slopes at Sundown. I can imagine that for him, this 'hill' of a mountain was quite a laugh as he was such a beautiful skier.

To Mike's Family....I just wanted to share a memory I have of Mike. I've known him for years; He was my brother Stuart's best friend. I can remember riding to school in the blue BMW (that was the coolest car back then) and Stuart and Mike making me get out a block away so they wouldn't be seen with the "little sister". I just remember Mike always being around. I moved away and so did my brother but every time we were home together Mike was there.....I can't believe he's gone.

Dearest Family of Mike: