Michael Kenneth Weitenhagen

Mike was born 14-Apr-1945 in West Union, IA to Clarence and Genevieve “Janie” Weitenhagen. Being raised on a farm, Mike was involved with many agriculture activities including raising sheep. After graduating from North Fayette High School, he joined the US Navy as a radio operator, assigned to the USS Coucal (ASR-8). While serving in the Navy, he did two tours in Vietnam and was honorably discharged Sep-1969.

Mike was not ready to return to cold, Iowa winter after 3 years in Hawaii so he found a job with the Pacific Telephone Company in 1969. He met Debbie Weber on a blind date, arranged by her mother and his uncle, both pioneers with Pacific Telephone Company. Mike and Deb were married on 12-Dec-1970.

They settled in Sonoma, CA where they raised their two children, Matthew and Laura. While in Sonoma, Mike was a volunteer fireman with Valley of the Moon Fire Department and retired from Shell-Vista Fire Department in 1996. Mike and Deb moved to Folsom, CA where, in 2001, he retired from the Phone Company. They moved to Moreno Valley, CA as part of Deb’s Civil Service career until her retirement in 2007. Mike and Deb have been living in Castle Rock, CO since 2011 to be closer to family.

Mike was involved in many community activities after retirement. He was a volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team in Moreno Valley supporting FEMA during hurricane season in Florida. Mike also began volunteering with the cancer society in Moreno Valley. He continued this volunteer work in Castle Rock driving cancer patients to appointments and was a grief share leader at Faith Lutheran Church. Mike and Deb enjoyed walking numerous cancer research fun-runs and fund-raisers.

Mike is survived by wife Debbie, son Matthew, and daughter Laura. He has three grand-children, Madelyn and Timothy (Matthew), and Ainsley (Laura). His sister Pat Flittie resides in Sioux Falls, SD along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family throughout the country.