Wallace D. Michener

September 18, 1924 - April 29, 2017
Wallace D. Michener

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Wallace D. Michener, 92, of Hendersonville died Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Pardee Hospital.

He was born September 18, 1924 in Ottumwa, Iowa, a son of the late Alfred Charles Michener Sr, and the late Genevieve Daggett Michener.  He graduated from Ottumwa High School and attended Iowa State University and Northwestern University in Iowa before serving in World War II.

He served as a rifleman with the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 26th (Yankee) division until captured in the Lorraine Campaign in November 1944.  He was released by a Russian tank column in early May 1945.

After his military service, he received his bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College and a MBA from the University of Minnesota. While attending Grinnell he met his wife Janet Ryden and they were married in 1948. He joined the Marathon Corporation in Wisconsin, and retired in 1981 as corporate compensation manager of American Can Company in Connecticut, moving to Hendersonville in 1982.

He began playing golf in 1934 and was fortunate to be able to play through 2012, with time off for military service.  He was active in instrumental music in high school and enjoyed returning to music after retirement.  He played with the Hendersonville Symphony and was a charter member of the Buddy K Band and the Community Band.

He was a lifelong Episcopalian, active throughout most of his life as vestry member, warden, lay reader, financial office, bell ringer, and fund raiser.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet Ryden Michener; his brother, Alfred Charles Michener Jr; and a son, Jimmy Michener.

He is survived by his daughter, Ann Marie Michener of Asheville; by his son, John Wallace Michener and his wife Julie Clare Michener of Minneapolis; and by nephews David Michener of New Jersey and Robert Michener of California; and by a niece, Susan Michener of West Virginia; and by his dear later-life friend Mary Edwards.

A memorial service will be held at 11am, Thursday May 4, 2017 at St. James Episcopal Church.  The Rev. Joel Hafer will officiate.  At his request his body will be donated to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and his ashes will be buried later in the St. James Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. James Church, 766 North Main St. Hendersonville NC 28739 or the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, 228 Sixth Avenue East, Hendersonville NC 28792.

 

 


Service

Thursday, May 4, 2017

St. James Episcopal Church - Directions
766 N. Main Street
Hendersonville, NC 28791

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  • May 03, 2017
    Lavinia Zimmermann says:
    I was so sorry to hear of Wally's passing. He & Janet were two of the first people who welcomed us when we first moved to Kenmure. We played many golf games together and had many birthday celebrations as Janet and my husband had the same birthday! He was always such a gentleman and everyone liked him. He will be truly missed.

  • May 04, 2017
    George Kessel says:
    Together......Ottumwa HS, Episcopal church acolytes, drafted same day, Fort Benning infantry training, Northeastern Univ (ASTP), 26th (Yankee) Infantry Div, wounded and evacuated within days of his capture, Grinnell College....miss your dry humor, old friend

  • May 04, 2017
    Carol Talbot says:
    Wally was a wonderful member of the Hendersonville Community Band for many years. He was a great guy!

  • June 08, 2019
    Katy Dyreby says:
    “Aunt Janet” and “Uncle Wally” are fondly remembered from my earliest years in Neenah Wisconsin. They were friends of my parents, Peg & John Corr back in the 50s. Their move to Connecticut and eventually to Hendersonville was a blessing to all their eastern friends but a loss to us midwesterners. My love and deepest condolences to the family.