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Alton - Michael Lee "Mike" Waide, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend died peacefully, at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at home. The earth lost a great guy, but Heaven gained an angel.
Mike loved his family first. He was proud of both his children and all his grand-children; He enjoyed working around the house/yard, fishing, playing sports, bicycling, the St. Louis Cardinals, family gatherings, and especially holidays.
Mike was born February 21, 1946 in St. Louis MO and later adopted by Frank and Hope Helen (Lane) Waide in 1953.
After graduation from Alton High School (1964), Mike joined the Navy. . A proud Viet Nam veteran, who was awarded a bronze star, he flew the American and Navy flags where he could see them daily.
Mike married Sharon Jean Siemer on December 10, 1966. A loving and admired couple, they had two children, Darin Waide (Kat) of Alton and Dana Croxford (Michael) of Godfrey: and six grandchildren, Aiden, Landon, Alana and Mailee Waide and Bryce and Lyla Croxford.
Along with his children and grandchildren, he is survived by his sister, Marilyn Hope (Waide) Lake and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his caretaker.
Mike was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Sharon, his adoptive parents, his brother, Frank J. Waide, Jr., his birth father, Dave Kaner, and stepmother, Cora Lee Kaner, his half brother, Sidney (Jackie) Kaner, his Siemer in-laws, Leo and Alfreda, many uncles and aunts, and too many friends.
Visitation was held Monday, October 14, 2024 and funeral services, Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at Gent Funeral Home, Alton. Burial was at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Godfrey with full military honors and a beautiful tribute of a Dove Release. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice. Friends and family may visit our website at www.gentfuneralhome.com to leave condolences to the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Telegraph on Oct. 12, 2024.
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Marilyn Hope Waide (Lake)
My heart is broken at the loss of my "little" brother Mike, but my mind is thankful that he is no longer suffering from the ravages of Multiple Sclerosis. In the last year of his life, he became immobile and those of you who knew Mike, know how active he was. He was always working around the house, yard and garden, or helping someone else work around their house, yard and garden. Even when he couldn't drive, he bicycled up the Great River Road and back. One friend said "He was the sweetest man I ever knew."
He loved decorating for holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween. Folks sometimes drove by just to see his decorations. He loved his family most of all, delighting in his children and grandchildren, and his beloved wife Sharon of 57 years who predeceased him.
From my family who adopted him, to his birth family the Dave Kaners, his in-laws, the Siemers, and his own family, he was deeply loved. There is much to say about my brother, Mike, but not enough space. He will be missed by not only family, but also friends and acquaintances. He was an extraordinarily nice human being!
Larry Donahue
Mike Waide was a man that any other man could look up to. There was such a large and loving heart in that small body. He proudly served our country. In our younger years we played ball together, thats when I first got respect for mike, as small as he was at that age he voluntered to catch me, I am not bragging on me,but Mike caught me gladly,I threw really hard and most did not want to catch me. No matter where I may have run into him he was always so friendly. I can remember sitting next to him at our 40th reunion and he made me feel so good. Those of us that knew him know what a loss his passing is, he will be missed, I know I will.