December 8, 1960  –  October 13, 2024

TOCCOPOLA – Mike “Skinny” Wendler, 63, passed away in Memphis, Tennessee on October 13, 2024, after an extended illness and surgery the week before. He was born in Columbia, TN on December 8, 1960 to David and Ann Wendler. He grew up in Hohenwald, TN and loved to return there to camp and fish. He moved to Perry, Georgia in 1974 then to Tupelo in 1976. He graduated from Tupelo High School in 1979 and later completed his certification in taxidermy. He proposed to his wife, Deborah Crosby, on their second date, and they married soon after, on July 30, 2004. They lived in Aberdeen, MS for several years before moving to Toccopola.

Mike was a true outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt any chance he got. He was also a very hard worker for Sherer’s, Lowe’s and Marvin’s, and on days off would pitch in to help friends or family any way he could. He also helped many strangers as a certified volunteer firefighter in Toccopola. Money was never important to him, but friends, family and fishing sure were! He was a loving husband, father, son, and brother, who was best known by family and friends as “Skinny”.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Ann Wendler, and by his grandparents.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Wendler; his three children, Michael David Wendler, Jr. (Dottie), Mitchell Ray Wendler, and Genie Ann Wendler; his father, David Wendler, Tupelo; and sisters Carla Wendler, Atlanta, and Sheila Harris (Freddy), Tupelo. He had four grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and numerous friends who considered him family.

In keeping with his lifelong work of helping others, Mike donated his body to science. A memorial service to honor him will be held at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo on Saturday, October 19, 2024, with visitation from 12 PM to 2 PM. A joint service along with his mother will start at 2 PM, with Brother David Smith and Rev. Charles Steele officiating. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and can be viewed at 2 PM Saturday at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming.

Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.