Michael Wissel

Michael “Mike” Edward Wissel (March 18, 1941-March 3, 2026) was like a good bottle of wine — complex, well balanced, and earthy with a hint of spice. Born in Loma Linda, CA to parents Clarence and Sarah Fryer Wissel, Mike was the oldest of four children. He and his sisters — Martha, Patricia “Tete”, and Barbara — grew up amid their family’s orange grove. The assumed heir to the family business, Mike had other ideas about his future and soon became captivated by film processing through which he said he could “see the world.”

Film did, indeed, help him see the world and all its natural beauty. He worked with a variety of leading photo processing companies including Walmart Photo and Fujicolor Photo, all of which had him move throughout the country. After relocating to Little Rock, Arkansas at the request of his longtime friend, Paul Boles he met Betty Chambers. He claimed he came for the job, but everyone who knew him understood he stayed for Betty who became his companion of 42 years.

When Mike learned that Walmart was planning to open a major photo lab in Northwest Arkansas, the couple relocated permanently to Rogers in the mid-1980s. He worked with Walmart to establish its photo processing labs across the country, ultimately transferring to Fujicolor Photo when the labs were sold.

The couple’s appreciation for the great outdoors was evident. Not only did Mike take great pride in his golf-course quality lawn, but he and Betty also set out to explore the Natural State. At first, they backpacked and camped throughout the area rain or shine. But soon, they traded in their tent for an RV and hit the road, often traveling to state and national parks.

Their travels didn’t stop at parks and racetracks. They also racked up miles on the way to California where they became welcome guests at a variety of the region’s finest wineries. Mike often joked that they had to trade in their first RV for a bigger model to double the amount of wine they could bring back to the then-dry Benton County. He considered the only good bottle of wine to be an empty bottle of wine. He approached wine collecting with the same philosophy he applied to life: enjoy it, share it, and don’t let any of it go to waste.

Whether on the road or at home, Mike’s curiosity was endless. As a self-educated man, Mike was a sponge for knowledge. He knew much more about Arkansas than many natives and could captivate audiences with stories, historical accounts, colorful commentary, and an occasional embellishment delivered with a straight face to unsuspecting friends and family.

His keen political observations, encyclopedic knowledge, and dry humor will be missed by all who knew him. Mike is survived by his lifelong companion Betty Chambers, his daughter Michelle Wissel, sister Martha Wissel and her husband Leon, and his sister Patricia and her husband Norm.