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Larry “Wayne” McMichael Obituary check_circle

We are devastated to share that our dear dear Dad, Larry “Wayne” McMichael, passed away suddenly on March 16, 2023.
Born in Sarnia on September 30 1945, to loving parents Harvey and Dorothy McMichael. He had a very close family and adored his parents. He loved his sisters Wendy Marsden (Rick Wyville) and Darlene McKay (Harland) and his brother Doug. They lost Doug early and our Dad talked to his sisters regularly- he loved them. Dad spoke of his Mom and Dad all the time, he would be overjoyed to be reunited with them in Heaven.

Wayne quickly took to public service, starting with Canada Immigration in 1967 and retiring as Senior Operations Manager in 1996. He was a knowledgeable and charismatic leader and he was very very well respected by all his peers at Customs and Immigration at “440”, the Bluewater Bridge. He made friends all over the world though his career and remembered them all fondly. Dad would proudly share with you that he was instrumental in starting the Nexus program, one of his many many career accomplishments. Those accomplishments are simply too numerous to list, he was purely brilliant. Every time he came home from a business trip he arrived with a gift in hand for all of us. He continued to help people though his Immigration consulting business which he successfully operated until just a few years ago. He helped many many people over the years with citizenship and work issues. He was exceptionally smart and so very quick witted and not ever to be messed with. A friend said in business he was “tough as nails” but he was also so very kind with a huge heart. He loved to have his coffee every day under the bridge and waved to and chatted with all his friends. If you walked by our Dad’s car, he considered you his friend. He had a smile for everyone.

Wayne was also so very proud to be one of Santa’s helpers and could be seen outside his parent’s Christmas beacon on Oak St. each Christmas season sharing magic with children and adults alike. He spent over 35 years visiting homes every single Christmas Eve as Santa’s helper- and always with gifts. We waited for him at home and knew this was “his calling”. He continued his wonderful Christmas decorating tradition with decorating at his own house on Ashby and Bel Aire and stood at the road dressed as Santa for days on end in snow or rain. Dad walked on every single bus for the celebration of lights tour and had a small gift for every single person. This was a tradition which he proudly and with great joy passed on to his son, Jason.

He loved a story and loved even more to tell them. He truly had a gift for storytelling, they might be all a slight bit exaggerated but my goodness, they were always so memorable. The stories will live forever, he always said “you better remember these, who will tell them when I’m gone.”

His old cars were a highlight of his life. He stored them at the “barn” and visited them lovingly every day. Every car had a story and Dad knew endless details about each. When at the barn he’d also take the time each day to enjoy his famous family mural he commissioned on the side of the building. Family truly was his life…

Dad loved a quick visit to the Casino and greeted everyone he saw. He enjoyed a meal there and smiled at everyone. If Dad saw you, then you were his Friend. He was always “lucky”, in so many many ways. Dad was a great cook and his cheesecake, chicken pot pie and cheeseball were the things of Legends.

Dads genuine real love in his life was for family. Even though Dad and our Mom had been apart for years, they had spent 38 years together and he loved her. Nancy (nee Campbell for a long time McMichael) Zimmerman always loved him back and they were close Friends and at peace with each other. Even better, Dad loved Les Zimmerman, our Mom’s husband and our wonderful step-Dad. Les in turn loved him right back and they always sat together at our frequent family dinners and would chat like old friends. It truly was the dream of one big happy family. Big smiles, lots of laughter and endless stories were our reality.

His three children, Janice McMichael -Dennis (Bill Dennis), Julie McMichael-McCormack (Joe), and Jason McMichael were his absolute pride and joy. He texted us in a group chat multiple times every single day. He wished us good morning, checked in on our day and sent us love in the evening. It was the last morning when his text didn’t arrive that we knew something was very very wrong in our world. Dad had never missed a “Good Morning” text in years and years. Dad was very proud of his sons-in-law Joe and Bill and they always helped him. Dad would love to talk hockey or chemical valley issues with Joe and was so proud that “my son in law Bill is a Sarnia City “alderman”. We loved our Dad with our whole hearts and can’t imagine a life not filled with our “Dad”. He was bigger than life and we knew we were the Centre of his life. Our Dad had a strong faith and took peace in prayer. He never ever started a meal without holding hands and a dinner grace. If something was amiss he’d commit to “pray for you”. And pray he would, he truly loved His Lord.

Dad was consumed with pride and love over his six grandchildren. They were his source of genuine and constant joy. He worshipped them endlessly and bragged about them at every chance. Dylan McMichael (Heather), Sam McCormack (Sydney), Austin McMichael (Molly), Lexi McCormack (Bryce), and Julia and Sophia McMichael were the lights of his life and they absolutely adored him. “Grampa” was his favourite greeting and these young people will have a special Angel watching over them for life. They filled his heart with love that not everyone in this life gets to enjoy. It was a mutual adoration.

His annual birthday barn parties were a year in the making and he looked forward to them throughout the year. This past September it was there that he proposed to his new loving fiancé Debbie. He serenaded her with the song “Annie’s Song” and asked her to be his wife. Debbie is our Southern Belle and had come into Dads life over the last couple years and brought him immense happiness. They talked twenty times a day and he anticipated each visit with the glee of a Teenager. Oh the look in his eye! They held hands, shared a beer, exchanged loving glances and truly completed each other. We couldn’t have asked for such happiness for our Dad for the past few years. To be this fortunate in life, you needed to be a truly good person and Dad was through and through. We loved that he loved Debbie. He just returned from a cruise of his dreams with Debbie and his beloved girls. What a gift that was! They were planning a Spring garden for her next visit which would have been to celebrate Dylan and Heathers wedding. Dad had already bought Debbie a dress and couldn’t wait for the wedding of his “Buddy” Dylan. He was so happy at Sam’s and Sydney’s wedding with his old car on display and he would have been just as happy at this one.

We know he won’t miss it and that we will feel his presence in June.

Dad was also survived and loved by the Campbell family including Ken, Millie, Ed and others.

Our father loved flowers but loved helping people even more. In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate to one of Sarnia’s food banks. Dad gave away food to those in need often. He once pulled over to the side of the road to give a man on the street his coat. He handed strangers money all the time and was always the most generous man you ever met. No one was in need of anything if our Dad was around. Please share that generosity and remember him, he’d really like that. We will take it from here Dad, in your honour and your memory.

Family and friends will be received at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, on Monday, March 20, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Smith Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.