Obituary for Michael Willette
Michael F. Willette, 59, died unexpectedly on Friday, December 4, 2020 at his home in South Burlington, Vermont.
Michael was born in Burlington, Vermont on September 27, 1961 to Eva (Landry) Willette and the late James John Willette, Sr., who predeceased him in 2011. Michael attended Essex High School and went on to complete multiple technical trainings and certifications related to automotive and boat repair. He married Lori J. (Templeton) Willette on December 11, 1982.
Michael was employed by the Town of Colchester, where he was a mechanic in the town garage. He also spent many years working in automotive parts departments in the Burlington area, and was an expert in automotive maintenance and repair. Michael had a love and a knack for working on cars, trucks and boats. He was a marine mechanic for over two decades and maintained boats for people throughout the region. If it had an engine, motor, or wheels, he could fix it, often outside in the middle of winter or up to his neck in ice-cold lake water. You could always find him under the hood of a car, inside the hull of a boat, tinkering in his garage, or out for a ride on his Harley. Michael lived to help others and never said no when someone needed help. He showed up for people when they needed him and was a constant source of support for the people he cared about. He also had a great sense of humor and liked to make people laugh.
Michael also loved animals large and small and would go out of his way to help them. Whether it was giving a home to a stray cat, driving a sick gerbil to a veterinarian in Richmond, or the time he rescued a baby squirrel and brought it to a wildlife sanctuary where it was nursed back to health, when Michael saw an animal in need, he would do anything to help. Michael found his purpose in fixing and helping, whether it was fixing a car or boat, or helping people or animals.
As a kid, Michael loved spending time hunting with his uncles and cousins at deer camp. He also loved hanging out with his Uncle Norman working on his antique trucks and cars. He loved going to his Uncle David’s house every Christmas for meat pie, the highlight of Christmas each year for our family. Growing up, Michael loved going with his dad to the junkyard, having fun searching for things to fix; years later he would take his own sons to spend hours looking for things he could repair and use or give to others. Michael was a great father to his two sons, Ben and James, and would take them on their newspaper delivery routes early in the morning before school, out fishing on Lake Champlain, or for boat rides when they were kids. Michael was proud of his sons and taught them to be kind and helpful towards others.
Michael is survived by his wife, Lori J. (Templeton) Willette of South Burlington, Vermont; son Benjamin J. Willette of Shelburne, Vermont; son Dr. James M. Willette and partner Sarith Keo of Seattle, Washington; and his beloved cat, Bandit (aka “Bud”). Michael is also survived by his mother, Eva Willette of Essex Junction, Vermont; uncle Norman Landry of Milton, Vermont; brother James John Willette, Jr. of Essex Junction; sister Laura Mead and husband Richard Mead of South Burlington, who was also Michael’s friend; sister Jeannie Jones of Essex Junction; friend and cousin Edward Spooner of Burlington, Vermont; mother-in-law Nancy Templeton of Shelburne, Vermont; brother-in-law and good friend Jeff Templeton and life partner Kari Larkin of South Burlington, Vermont; brother-in-law Jay Templeton and wife Sherry Templeton of Magnolia, Delaware; brother-in-law Joel Templeton and life partner Tammy Ricard of North Hero, Vermont; brother-in-law James Templeton and wife Jennifer Templeton of Wells, Maine; brother-in-law Jon Templeton of South Burlington; sister-in-law Lisa Hanlon and husband Randy Hanlon of South Burlington; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a granddaughter, Cheyenne, daughter of Benjamin.
The family would like to especially thank Michael’s cousin and friend, Dan Landry, for his help and support during these difficult days.
A graveside service will be held in mid-2021 when COVID conditions improve and we are able to gather safely to celebrate Michael’s life. Information about the service will be announced in the spring.
If you would like to make a donation in Michael’s honor, please consider making a gift to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or the Humane Society of Chittenden County at http://hsccv.org.
Michael was born in Burlington, Vermont on September 27, 1961 to Eva (Landry) Willette and the late James John Willette, Sr., who predeceased him in 2011. Michael attended Essex High School and went on to complete multiple technical trainings and certifications related to automotive and boat repair. He married Lori J. (Templeton) Willette on December 11, 1982.
Michael was employed by the Town of Colchester, where he was a mechanic in the town garage. He also spent many years working in automotive parts departments in the Burlington area, and was an expert in automotive maintenance and repair. Michael had a love and a knack for working on cars, trucks and boats. He was a marine mechanic for over two decades and maintained boats for people throughout the region. If it had an engine, motor, or wheels, he could fix it, often outside in the middle of winter or up to his neck in ice-cold lake water. You could always find him under the hood of a car, inside the hull of a boat, tinkering in his garage, or out for a ride on his Harley. Michael lived to help others and never said no when someone needed help. He showed up for people when they needed him and was a constant source of support for the people he cared about. He also had a great sense of humor and liked to make people laugh.
Michael also loved animals large and small and would go out of his way to help them. Whether it was giving a home to a stray cat, driving a sick gerbil to a veterinarian in Richmond, or the time he rescued a baby squirrel and brought it to a wildlife sanctuary where it was nursed back to health, when Michael saw an animal in need, he would do anything to help. Michael found his purpose in fixing and helping, whether it was fixing a car or boat, or helping people or animals.
As a kid, Michael loved spending time hunting with his uncles and cousins at deer camp. He also loved hanging out with his Uncle Norman working on his antique trucks and cars. He loved going to his Uncle David’s house every Christmas for meat pie, the highlight of Christmas each year for our family. Growing up, Michael loved going with his dad to the junkyard, having fun searching for things to fix; years later he would take his own sons to spend hours looking for things he could repair and use or give to others. Michael was a great father to his two sons, Ben and James, and would take them on their newspaper delivery routes early in the morning before school, out fishing on Lake Champlain, or for boat rides when they were kids. Michael was proud of his sons and taught them to be kind and helpful towards others.
Michael is survived by his wife, Lori J. (Templeton) Willette of South Burlington, Vermont; son Benjamin J. Willette of Shelburne, Vermont; son Dr. James M. Willette and partner Sarith Keo of Seattle, Washington; and his beloved cat, Bandit (aka “Bud”). Michael is also survived by his mother, Eva Willette of Essex Junction, Vermont; uncle Norman Landry of Milton, Vermont; brother James John Willette, Jr. of Essex Junction; sister Laura Mead and husband Richard Mead of South Burlington, who was also Michael’s friend; sister Jeannie Jones of Essex Junction; friend and cousin Edward Spooner of Burlington, Vermont; mother-in-law Nancy Templeton of Shelburne, Vermont; brother-in-law and good friend Jeff Templeton and life partner Kari Larkin of South Burlington, Vermont; brother-in-law Jay Templeton and wife Sherry Templeton of Magnolia, Delaware; brother-in-law Joel Templeton and life partner Tammy Ricard of North Hero, Vermont; brother-in-law James Templeton and wife Jennifer Templeton of Wells, Maine; brother-in-law Jon Templeton of South Burlington; sister-in-law Lisa Hanlon and husband Randy Hanlon of South Burlington; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a granddaughter, Cheyenne, daughter of Benjamin.
The family would like to especially thank Michael’s cousin and friend, Dan Landry, for his help and support during these difficult days.
A graveside service will be held in mid-2021 when COVID conditions improve and we are able to gather safely to celebrate Michael’s life. Information about the service will be announced in the spring.
If you would like to make a donation in Michael’s honor, please consider making a gift to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or the Humane Society of Chittenden County at http://hsccv.org.