Michael Allen Walkner passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Mad River Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. He was 78 years old. He had been suffering from Lewy Body dementia for the past several years and had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 26, 1946, the second of three sons born to Engelbert Walkner Jr. and Buelah Walkner (nee: Seyler). When he was eight years old, his life changed forever. His father drowned tragically when a boat he was in capsized during a storm while on a family fishing trip.

After his father’s death, Mike moved to Neenah, Wisconsin with his mother and brother, Tom, to be close to his mother’s brother and his family. Mike graduated from Neenah High School, where he played football and baseball, in 1964. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 1968 with a B.S. degree in biology.

After graduation from college, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army and served on active duty from 1968 to 1971. After basic and advanced training as a combat engineer, he entered Officers Candidate School, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1970 and was deployed to South Korea, where he served as commanding officer of a unit until his discharge in 1971. He obtained the rank of first lieutenant while he served in Korea.

In 1971 Mike married Judy (nee: Bily) in Hawaii. Their daughter, Jessie, was born in 1974 and their son, Casey, was born in 1976. During their marriage both Mike and Judy were employed in the medical industry, Judy as a licensed physical therapist and Mike as a licensed clinical laboratory scientist. Their employment took them to medical facilities in both Montana and Wisconsin. While married, Mike obtained a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

While living in Minocqua, Wisconsin, Mike and Judy divorced in 1993. During this transition time, Mike commuted to a school in Minnesota, where he became licensed as a massage therapist. Jessie went with him and took classes at the University of Minnesota. Together they shared an apartment for Jessie, while Mike traveled weekly to Minocqua to maintain his employment status. After this year in Minnesota, Judy, Jessie and Casey moved to Northern California. Mike stayed in Minocqua until 1996, employed as the head of the laboratory at the Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua.

At the end of 1996 Mike moved to Humboldt County to be close to his son and daughter. Mike was hired as a clinical laboratory scientist at the Northern California Blood Bank in Eureka, where he worked until he retired in 2017.

In 1997, Mike met and began dating Carolyn Ames and they were married on Jan. 5, 2001 in Eureka. Mike and Carolyn were both employed in the medical field. Mike as a clinical laboratory scientist, and Carolyn as a RN. They both were also massage practitioners, which is how they met. They spent many years juggling a life between family, full time employment, dedication to service, and building projects. Next January, they would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Mike and Carolyn loved the outdoors, taking trips to our national parks, as well as travel abroad. One of the highlights of their travels was a trip to Europe, in which Mike was able to spend time with distant relatives on his father’s side.

Mike was intelligent, loyal, funny and hard-working. He was a great husband, father, brother and a friend to many.

He was an avid reader, enjoyed swimming, woodworking, walking his dog, Gracie, camping, watching his grandchildren grow and was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. He enjoyed researching his family through genealogy. He was known for planting apple trees wherever he lived. Mike was not especially fond of Trivia games, but everyone wanted him on their team, because he knew minor details about everything. Mike’s love for family will truly be missed by all.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother Donald Walkner, sister-in-law Jane Walkner, his grandson Riley. His brother-in-law, Guy Ames, brother-in-law, Brad Ames, father-in-law, Bob Ames, & mother-in-law, Mary Jean Ames.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Carolyn; his brother Thomas (Kathleen), his son Casey Walkner (Laura), daughter, Jessie Burns, son, Guy Walkner (Ashley), daughter, Cicely (Jaimal ); grandchildren Adam (Tessa), Owen, Scarlett, Wylie, Coyle, Tatum, Baylee, Callie, great-grandson Alex, sister-in-law Kathy Sherwin (Ray), nieces Polly Lipinski (Luis), Amy Walkner, Rachel Armstrong (Brad), nephews Craig Walkner, and Clint Walkner (Courtney) and Adrian Sherwin (Kate).

His graveside service will be held on March 8, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata. A celebration of life will be held, following this service at the Arcata Veteran’s Hall.

Donations can be made to the Eureka Food Bank, in Mike’s name. Flowers can be delivered to the Greenwood Cemetery.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Mike Walkner’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.