I am so sorry Mike passed away.  It's been a long time since I saw my cousin, but judging from all the positive comments posted here and on his facebook page, he was a wonderful person and will be sorely missed by those who knew him. Lets all hope he finds a band in heaven that needs a good bass player!

i lived on spruce st ,not far from the pawn shop ,as a kid with a shine box (shoe shines) i would stare at a pair of trench binoculars that were in the window for years, i met Mike through the band, i worked with all the big bands in the 70s and 80s ,i got to say Hazzyrd was as good as any of them , Mike and i clicked ,he had a way about him , fun funny ,non threatening the bottom line MIKE WAS A GOOD GUY the world has lost a lot of great musicians recently , well they just dot there bass player , rock on mike   your pal smoothy

Here is a letter that I wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Julius and Betty Wise:

I first met Mike Wise in the summer of 1976, at Paradise Park (former arcade, Olympic sized swimming pool, Go-Cart track, duck pond) in Lewiston, Maine, and it was my sister, Marianne (Jean), who told me that she recently met someone named Mike there and he was  supposed to come back to meet up with her that next day.

Sure enough, here comes Mike, cruising in a beautiful 1974 green Oldsmobile Cutlass (pic of one attached, not exactly the same but as close as I could find), with the white scooped hood and remember my sister lighting up when he rolled in.  I remember them flirting and laughing and, yup, they were married in 1978.

Their first house was on Davis Avenue in Auburn, along with Bullet, their Dachshund and Menew, their Siamese cat. Then along came little blessings, Scott – my little nephew and then Jenna, my little niece.

When the kids were really young, sometime Mike and I would go fishing on Lake Auburn. We would sometimes start at Dag’s bait shop in Auburn and if I was lucky, he would also buy me a new lure! Then we spend hours trolling along the lake looking for bass.  I never will forget that one time we fished really hard for salmon, using down riggers and everything, with no luck. Then as we were pulling into the boat launch, a guy who was fishing from shore nailed a nice big salmon!

Well, the words that came out of Mike’s mouth is nothing I can repeat here but as he was using his truck to pull out the boat, he blew the clutch!   MAN oh man, he blew as gasket (no PUN intended!)!  But, as usual, Mike got over his anger pretty quickly but I will never forget that day.

We did do a lot of fishing and as Scott grew older, he would come with us. After a while, as I turned into my later teens, other things took up my time and never really went out on the lake with Mike again but he had a new partner, Scott.

Other memories of Mike were at the Wise Trading Company in Lewiston, when I would visit him and sell or buy a few little things here or there.

Then there were the good times camping at Muskegeon campground, which was on Hogan pond in Oxford, Maine, which have their own stories.

And we cannot forget his band, Hazzyrd – Ha for Molly Hatchett, ZZ for ZZ Top and Yrd for Lynyrd Skynyrd I remember they used to practice in the finished basement at our house on Ashmount Street in Lewiston. Once they told me I could invite some friends so I remember my neighbor Denise Binette and I, riding our bikes, up and down the street, yelling FREE CONCERT today at the Jean’s residence!  About 20 people showed up and we all had a great time!

Marianne & I and sometimes our brother David, would see the band playing at local venues like The Cellar Door in Auburn.

As we grew older and after the divorce, did not see much of Mike and after moving to Florida, only saw him a few more times for a few of my niece’s and nephew’s big events.  

So it was wonderful when Mike and I connected on Facebook, so we could share stories and see what was happening in each other’s lives. Mike also liked to comment and add funny remarks on my posts!

I will always remember Mike first for his sense of humor!  He loved to laugh and crack jokes.  He was easy to be around and a warm hearted and loving person. And his love for animals and compassion is something else that we shared.

And then there is his family, on the Wise-side.  Meeting with you both, Laura and other extended family members has always been a pleasure.

Mike now leaves behind a legacy with his 2 children, with a 2+ year old granddaughter and another one on the way. And who knows what Jenna has in store J

As we will all struggle with his loss, in our own way, know that he was truly loved, in the past, in the presence and not to be forgotten in the future.

His death was a remarkable tragedy, I will think of you, always, Michael Wise.

Your (x) sister-in-law,

  

Carole G. Jean, Portland, Maine

Thanks Mike for 15 years of Love, Friendship, Great Times together and the Best two kids parents could ever want. You were always a Great Dad and loved them deeply with all your heart and soul.. You always loved being home with them every night including practicing all the new wrestling moves on them after watching the shows, HaHa. I will never forget the time the doctor held you up and sat you down on the chair since you almost passed out seconds after Scott was born (I was perfectly fine!) Always teased you about that. You were always at all the kids games cheering and supporting them. Even after the divorce, we still remained friends until the end and I will miss you always and forever! Thanks for all the Wonderful Memories! Love You...

To all the Wise Family so sorry for your loss Mike will be sadly missed

I was also in the early bands mentioned in Jerry Bosse's memory below.  I was with Mike in the 9th grade when his 6 string guitar was set aside for a bass and we would have endless jams in his basement until his parents couldn't take it anymore.  He was surely my best friend back then.  Even when I was constantly being replaced by better guitar players in our garage bands!  That would send me home to practice more...   
I have a  lot of fond memories of Mike,    driving around in his mom's station wagon when he first got his license...skiing at Lost Valley with our stupidly short skiis...
He always had a silly exuberance, always finding the funny side of things, he was a joy to be with.
It makes me sad I never reconnected with him...

Tony Blanchard

I came to know Mike in high school. We later grew closer while playing in a rock band originally named "Takalis" which later became known as "Tucker." Lasting impressions of Mike could best be summed by his choice to attack life to its fullest. He never seemed complacent to merely experience life but rather chose to engage IN it with all he was able. At an age where late teen men should be learning life, my impression was always that Michael wanted most tenaciously to be part of his life. Though I lost track of Mike as the years moved on, I have never doubted for a moment that his vision, his embrace of life would ever diminish. I am better for knowing Mike. May God Bless him and his survivors.

-Jerry Bosse

I remember chatting with Mike roughly one month ago. We became connected here on Facebook roughly 2 years ago. I Knew him since I was probably 13 years old. Very sad and shocked to see this news. Rest in PEACE Mike.

OBITUARY

Michael D. Wise

March 20, 1956 – March 21, 2016

Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home and Cremation Services

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