Michele K. Wylie

September 24, 1958 – February 25, 2020

Michele K. Wylie, 61, died at home of complications arising from cancer on February 25, 2020.

A memorial service will be held at Michele’s church, Helotes Hills United Methodist Church, 13222 Bandera Rd, Helotes, TX 78023 at 2:00 PM on March 7, 2020.

Michele was born and raised in Fond du Lac Wisconsin.  At age 22, she joined the United States Air Force, serving honorably until her retirement in 1999 with the rank of Master Sergeant.  During her service Michele was a Veterinary Technician, a Military Public Health Specialist, and a Master Instructor at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine's Department of Public Health.  Michele was stationed at Eielson AFB, AK, Brooks AFB, TX, Randolph AFB, TX, Ramstien AB, Germany, and Lackland AFB, TX.  Michele earned many accolades during her service, including her selection as the Airman of the Quarter, Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, and she was the first woman to be honored as the Cleveland L. Parker Award recipient as the USAF Military Public Health Non-Commissioned Officer of the year.

It was while she was stationed at Randolph that she met Burney Wylie, and they were married on October 16th, 1989.

After her retirement from the Air Force, Michele continued her service to her country, joining the ranks of the civilian workforce at the Audie L. Murphy Veteran's Affairs hospital as a Ward Clerk, in 2008.  Michele was promoted to the position of Lead Ward Clerk, serving in that role until her death.

Throughout her life Michele loved and cared for animals.  She was a volunteer at animal shelters in and around San Antonio for many years and found an opportunity to help with a dog rescue organization in Germany.  Her love for dogs in particular led to having dogs in her life almost continuously, culminating in her adoption of several rescued Salukis.  Michele trained three of her Salukis to be registered therapy dogs. Michele spent many Sunday afternoons visiting hospitals and nursing homes with Tommy, Audrey and Zuly bringing comfort and cheer to patients.  Michele also fed countless feral cats and became an expert in trapping them for the spay/neuter and release program.

A favorite childhood memory of Michele’s was an automobile trip that she, her parents, and her uncle Tim took from Fond du Lac to South Dakota in 1964, to visit the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore.  Fifty years later, this trip was almost replicated when Michele, Burney, Michele’s stepson Justin Wylie, and his wife Julie went to the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and Devils Tower National Monument.  This second trip was much more comfortable, as the vehicle used in 2016 had air conditioning!

No matter where Michele’s travels took her, Michele remained a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan.  Burney was born and raised in Temple, TX and is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan.  The Packers/Cowboys games were always an interesting event in the Wylie household.  However, Michele did succumb to the charms of the San Antonio Spurs, joining Burney in that enthusiasm.

Michele found great comfort and joy in her faith.  She was an active member of the Helotes Hills United Methodist Church and sang in the choir.

Michele was preceded in death by her parents, Gerhardt and Ethel (Kaiser) Neumann; and survived by her husband, Burney, stepson Justin (Julie) Wylie, sister Nancy (Roger) Petrie, brother Randy (Christine) Le Fevre as well as several nieces and nephews.