Obituary of Michael J. Ofchus

Michael John Ofchus, age 59 of Wimberley, Texas, died Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Legend Oaks Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Kyle, Texas. Mike was born on October 30, 1955 in Livonia, Michigan. He was the fifth child of Ann Therese Mertens and Leon Thomas Ofchus. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, sister Patricia Doat and brother Gregory. He is survived by the love of his life Barbara Roberts, sisters, Anne Doolen (Michael) and Judy, brothers, Tom (Jean), Kevin (Sonyua) and brother-in-law Robert Doat, great nieces, Enid and Sophia Ward, great nephews, Samuel and Gabriel Doolen and Hugo Meyerhofer, nephew Christopher Doolen (Shelly), niece Katherine Ward (Doolen) (Gerald), niece Renee Sylor (Doat) (Tony), niece Mireille Meyerhofer (Doat) (Chad) and brothers by extension, Bill Cotton, Chris Kelley, Ed Yankalunas and Walter Stewart. Mike attended Geneseo Central School. While there he excelled at athletics, being a member of the track, basketball and football teams. He was particularly proud to have been a member of the first junior varsity football team that posted an undefeated season in 1971. He also played trumpet in the school's band. After graduating from GCS in 1974, Mike established and ran a number of successful businesses, most notably the Fall Brook Fruit and Vegetable Stand. While attending Wayne State University in Detroit, Mike began his love affair with the guitar. It was here that he honed his guitar skills when he befriended and was tutored by American folk musician Sixto Diaz Rodriguez. Mike completed his undergraduate work at the State University of New York at Geneseo. He went on to do graduate work at the University of Connecticut at Storrs concentrating on international agricultural trade. After college he joined the Peace Corps and spent several years in Guatemala helping to improve agricultural practices being used there and to provide better quality drinking water. It was in Guatemala that Mike met Barbara Roberts, and for the next 30 years they lived together in Miguel de San Allende, Mexico and Wimberley, Texas, producing, marketing and selling the painted glass art work that Barbara created. Mike's last days were spent in the loving care of his friends in Texas as the effects of COPD overcame him. During this time he found peace and acceptance. Mike had great charm, a keen wit, and a mischievous smile. He had the ability to light up a room simply by walking into it. He was a loving person of genuine warmth and probably never was aware of how profoundly he touched people. As hard as it is for friends and family to cope with Mike's passing, we all share the joy of having known Mike. And we are all better persons for it. In Mike's honor the family requests donations to go The Wimberley Ray of Hope Foundation, P.O. Box 2396, Wimberley, Texas 78676.