Michael "Mert" Ronald Schweppe, age 56, of Wichita, Kansas died March 15, 2020 at his residence. Mike was born on September 27, 1963, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Ronald and Barbara Schweppe of Spencer, Iowa.
The family moved to rural Hutchinson, Kansas when Mike was in elementary school. He attended Haven Grade School and Haven High School, and graduated in 1981. While in school, he was active in music, FFA, and 4-H. Upon graduation, he received a scholarship to Hutchinson Community College for livestock judging. He graduated from Cowley County Community College. He then received his A&P certification from Wichita Area Technical College. He worked as a machinist at Central Plastics in McPherson and also at Weaver Manufacturing. He was an air frame instructor at WATC.
Mike had a sharp and unique mind and pursued his interests with an uncommon passion. He studied history, particularly wars and munitions, and loved to engage others in deep conversations around the causes, theories, and tactics. Aviation was another passion for Mike; he not only learned about flying, but developed a deep level of knowledge about airplane design and manufacturing. He was a gifted artist, drawing his subjects with intricate details, and he taught himself to play the guitar. Mike formed a band in the early 80s and enjoyed jam sessions and small gigs around the area. Purchasing and modifying a Harley-Davidson motorcycle led to countless road trips and meetings of new friends with similar interests. In recent years, he collected guns and spent his time at gun shows and shooting ranges, imparting his knowledge on others and engaging in rich discussions about the intricacies of all types of weapons.
Mike had a deep faith in Christ and has been involved in several churches, Bible studies, and creations of home churches. There he met many other lifelong friends. Mike never met a stranger and used his gift of gab to talk to anyone about any subject. His friends have been his true family in the Kansas area and have supported, sustained, entertained, and enriched him. Mike’s generous spirit was contagious to others, and as he gave freely to them, they responded likewise. His friends were one of his true sources of joy and thanksgiving.
Preceding Mike in death were his father, Ronald Schweppe; maternal grandparents, Oleva (Jacobson) and Lester Haukoos; and paternal grandparents, Geneva (Polluck) and Melford Schweppe. Left to cherish Mike’s memory are his mother, Barb Schweppe, of Jewell, Iowa; sister, Pam Stangeland and brother in-law Don, of Stanhope, Iowa; brother, Brad Schweppe and sister in-law Ellen, of Reinbeck, Iowa; nephews, Jordan (Nicholle) and Taylor Stangeland, Max and Alex Schweppe; nieces Savana (Brady) Stangeland and Sophia Schweppe; great-niece Harper Stangeland, great-nephew Hoyt Stangeland, and countless friends who comprised his Kansas family.
Funeral services will be held 10:30am, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, with visitation 1 hour prior, both at Resthaven Mortuary; interment at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Memorials may be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.
