Funeral services for Michael Wimmer, 50, of Fort Gibson, OK will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, March 19, 2012 at Lescher-Millsap Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Gary Carey officiating. Pallbearers will be Michael Tiger, Ernie Tiger, Lance Bohanon, Stuart Graham, Jared Hinds, and Farrell Kaaihue. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee under the direction of Lescher-Millsap Funeral Home.
Michael (known as “Big Mike” Class of 1979) Wimmer was born July 28, 1961 in Muskogee, OK the son of Peggy Johnson and died March 15, 2012 in Tulsa, OK. He married Shelley Faulkner January 21, 2000 in Berryville, AR. He was a member of Park Hill Baptist Church. Michael was a maintenance supervisor at the Creek Nation Casino. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Survivors include his wife, Shelley Wimmer of the home; three children, Alley Wimmer, Joshua Wimmer and Jacob Wimmer all of Fort Gibson, OK and one brother, Claude Wimmer Jr. of Muskogee, OK.
James R Tuggle
Very shocked and sorry to hear the news of Mike's passing. I pray for God's grace for his family in this difficult time.
Jim T
Pamela Dean Goodwin (Oliver)
Mike had one of the biggest hearts....he was a kind person with a beautiful smile.Jeffery Barclay Potts
I was there when "Big" Mike Wimmer died. He died in the hospital at St. Francis in Tulsa. He had suffered a stroke a week before. They had already taken Big Mike off life support and he was in a coma when I got there. His wife and several family members were in the room at the time - it was very sad and somber situation. I knew he was dying and I came by to pay my last respects. They didn't expect him to survive through the weekend. Trying to lighten the mood just a little without being too disrespectful (as we were just staring at each other contemplating the disbelief), I said, "This is somewhat ironic, but there was a time right after high school when Big Mike almost killed me! They all chuckled at the thought and wanted to hear more. It all started when we were at the water slide park next to the high school right after we graduated in the early summer of 1979. Not satisfied with just sliding down the slide like normal people - that's not fun and dangerous. So we made it funnier and more dangerous. I was laying on my belly going down the water slide and Mike was behind me, also on his belly, pushing hard on my knees as we went through a 90-degree curve. We did this several times, almost pushing me completely out of the water slide on each trip - but thinking it was really funny - even though rather dangerous. As we got down to the bottom of the side on our climb back up the stairs, I commented to Mike that when he pushed me through the 90-degree turn that time, I was so high up on the edge of the slide, I could almost see the entire city. It was a great view for a few seconds. Then, on the fourth trip - pushing me as hard as a Rougher football offensive lineman could, Big Mike did push me out of the water slide - completely -causing me to dangle 25' above the ground on the outside of the water slide - trying not to fall to my death. As I'm sliding down the slide - on the outside of the slide - I could feel the sharp fiberglass edges of the slide scratching my belly as I was trying to hang on for dear life. Finally, as I'm sliding on the outside of the slide, I had to let go - it was starting to hurt - stinging more than anything. I fell off the water slide and rolled downhill into the mud below. Though covered in mud, I didn't think I was hurt that bad, but my stomach stung quite a bit. As I checked out the damage, dirt and mud, the gasps from the other folks at the slide was a little concerning. They said, "Jeff, you're cut!!" I looked to my left side, and didn't see anything but a large red scratch. They said, "No, the other side!!" As I raised my right arm, I could then see the damage to my torso. It looked like all of my guts were about to fall out on to the sidewalk. My stomach had been sliced open with a Ginsu knife from one side to the other from the razor-sharp fiberglass on the outside of the slide and I was trying to hang on to the slide 25' up in the air. It didn't really hurt like you would think - at first. Dollin Argo threw me into his gorgeous car, a baby blue 1978 Chevy Camaro, with blue leather seats He rolled the window down in case I needed to throw up. I told him I was very sorry for causing a murder scene in his nice car - not to mention the dirt and mud. Then the pain hit me about halfway to the hospital. It was nearly unbearable. And the 90-mile an hour wind blowing in through the window didn't help - but it was too late to roll it back up. Dolin wasn't stopping until he got me completly out of his car. When the doctors got through with me, I had 55 stiches across the center of my belly - and I have them to this day. Luckily, no vital organs had been cut. It was a good thing I let go from the slide when I did. Mike was more scared than I was that he had maybe killed me. I know now what it must be like when guys get shot in war, but they don't feel anything for awhile. For the first 15 minutes - no pain - but after 15 minutes - terrible horrific pain. The crazy part - now that I'm a lawyer - I never asked for a dime from the water park or their insurance company. I didn't even know you could sue for being a dumb kid doing dumb kid stuff, but you can. That was a slam dunk legal case - and a few weeks later, they put a top on the 90-degree curve so you could not get pushed out. Probably could have gotten law school paid for if I had known. Auh well - live and learn. As soon as I finished telling that story to Mike 's family, Mike opened his eyes as big a plate saucers, leaned forward and stared straight ahead for four or five seconds then gave a deep gasped, layed back into the bed and took his last breath on this earth. It was as if he could hear the story I was telling and as soon as I finish, he was ready to go to the next life. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life and I am thankful I was there to be with Big Mike as he spiritually left this earth and the Muskogee High School Class of 1979 - but his memory is still with us. We love you and miss ya Big Mike!!
Carrie Winkle (Mccormick)
That was really sweet jeff..