Michael Wayne STUDER

STUDER, HIEMSTRA, STEVENS, DERNER, PETERSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/17/2017 at 18:37:10

March 7, 1950 ---- May 13, 2017

Michael Wayne Studer, 67, Clarion, died at home on Saturday, May 13, 2017. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue North East in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, with a Rosary beginning at 3:45 PM, at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Mike was born March 7, 1950 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Frank and Leona (Hiemstra) Studer. He grew up on the family farm near Clarion where he attended St. John’s Catholic School and graduated from Clarion High School in 1968. He wrestled at both the high school and collegiate level. After graduating from Iowa State University in 1972, he returned to Clarion and purchased the farm next to his parents. Farming was his lifelong passion and he took great pride in continuously improving his farming operation.

Mike’s childhood best friend was his big brother Loren. Between chores and working in the fields, they would build things in the shop and blow things up, something they learned from their dad. They and their cousins David, Rick and Ardell would spend hours building forts in the hay loft, playing baseball and cops and robbers. The entire house would shake when Mike and Loren started wrestling each other on the living room floor and end up in the dining room with Loren laughing and Mike’s face red as a beet. In high school Mike liked fast cars and his Harley. He shared his dad’s love of John Wayne and old black and white westerns.

Mike married Sandra Kae Stevens on September 7, 1974 in Clarion. They built a house on the farm where they raised their two children, Meghan and Jonas. Being a husband and dad were the most important things in his life. As Meghan and Jonas grew, many hours were spent on bleachers supporting them in all their sports and activities. The Studer farmstead was a great gathering place all year round for the kids’ friends. Mike was often flipping burgers, repairing a snowmobile or building a bonfire. Many family vacations and friend outings were spent in his beloved “Betsy” the van. Spending time with family and friends was of the utmost importance to him.

Mike was an active member of the Clarion Ruritans. He served on the St John’s Parish Council, and as a 9-year Director of the Wright County Co-op. His favorite pastimes include golf, woodworking, time with the coffee crew and lending a helping hand to family and friends whenever needed. Mike could repair or build anything.

Meghan married Dan Derner in 2004 and Mike soon took on the job of being “Papa” to their five children with great pride. He never passed up an opportunity to share stories about them. He shared his love of cartoons with the kids during their visits while preparing his specialty breakfast of red velvet pancakes.

Mike is survived by his wife Sandra; daughter Meghan (Dan) Derner; son Jonas; grandchildren, Leah, Livia, Dane, Lauren and Lara; mother Leona; sister Pat (Gary) Petersen; brother Carl (Lori) Studer; father-in-law, Robert Stevens; many nieces and nephews as well as many well-loved friends. He was preceded in death by his father Frank and brother Loren. Memorial contributions may be made to Clarion Ruritans and St. John’s Catholic Church.

http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/michael-mike-w-studer/