Wallace D. Michener

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.