Lt. Col. Michael E. Wikan, US Army (RET) passed peacefully at home August 17, 2022 after a short illness, at home, surrounded by his family including his wife of fifty-eight years Sandra Ellis Wikan and their children Michael, Gregory, and Katherine.
Son of Lt. Col. Walter Wikan and Dorothy Dunton Wikan, Michael grew up in a large “Army Family” of six brothers and sisters traveling the world. He graduated from West Point in 1964 and served honorably in the US Army for twenty years attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, being awarded numerous commendations including Two Silver Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters and Two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters for his actions as a Company Commander during the Vietnam War in the battles surrounding the Tet Offensive.
During his Army career he was stationed at many other places both in the United States and abroad, including Germany, South Korea, and Puerto Rico. It provided his family an interesting and exciting life. His later career included many years in the commercial defense industry using his hard-won knowledge in new ways to benefit the nation he loved. In addition to his deep abiding love of family and faith, he had an unquentiable love of the outdoors, nature, and the sporting life. A wily hunter and accomplished angler, most weekends he could be found stalking wild game with rod or rifle with his children and, later, grandchildren. He had a wonderful lust for living, art, writing and a rigorous mind.
In addition to his many other accomplishments he has written an acclaimed nonfiction account of his experiences in Vietnam as a combat officer in the book “Sons of Kolchak”.
Michael is survived by his wife Sandra, sons Michael (Samantha) and Gregory (Rachel), daughter Katherine (Mark), grandchildren Alexander, Hannah, Audrey and William. Services will be held at Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis on Friday, August 26, 2022 at 11:00 AM. Flowers are accepted, or memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Florida 32778.
