Michael Wayne Mink, Sr's Obituary
"Mike" the son of Frances Marjorie VanNieuwenhuyze Mink and Walter Wayne Mink was born on Tuesday, February 24, 1948, in Memphis. It was a pleasant and happy day with clear skies and thankfulness and joy in the Mink and VanNieuwenhuyze families. While Mike was still young, his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, and lived there for several years. He had a well-rounded life provided by loving parents. He took dance lessons, where his instructor was a former "Miss Mississippi" and he was known as the "Rhumba King" of his class. The Mink family had horses and on weekends they would saddle up ride to the Toddle House, tie up the horses, and have brunch.
He attended St. Andrews School for elementary school and then attended Power School in Jackson. When he was about 12 years old, his family, including his younger brother Patrick "Pat" Joseph Mink, moved back to Memphis. His Dad was building the First American Bank Building at Second and Jefferson in downtown Memphis and renovating the OK Storage building next door into offices, renaming it the Tenoke Building. Later they moved to a farm on Shelby Drive. Mike loved to hunt and fish. After a while the drive to downtown was too much for his Dad, so they moved to East Memphis. Mike graduated from Germantown High School in 1965. Mike attended Memphis State University and graduated with a BBA in 1969. Mike had planned to join the Air Force and enter training to be part of the office of the Judge Advocate General. However, it was discovered that his eye problem would eventually cause blindness and he was 4F'd. Not to let things stand in his way, he started at the Cecil C. Humphreys Law School.
During all this, he met Leslie Anne Bracey, and after their first date, Leslie told her dorm roommate that Mike was the man she would marry. On December 11, 1970, the dream came true for them. They would be lovingly married for over fifty-five years.
His eyesight became so bad that he required a corneal transplant. In May, 1971, a benevolent donor gave Mike the opportunity to see again. Mike's corneal transplant was the first successful one in Memphis. It lasted 48 years.
On August 1, 1975, Mike and Leslie blessed with the birth of their son, Michael Wayne Mink, Jr.
After his vision stabilized, Mike went back to Memphis State University and earned his MBA. Even young Wayne attended graduation and celebrated that achievement.
Mike sat for the Tennessee Real Estate exam shortly after his 21st birthday and held his license for over 50 years. He managed Memphis area properties for SouthMark Realty of Dallas. He then managed White Station Tower for Clark & Clark of Memphis. In October 1987 he was hired by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company to manage a portfolio of properties in the Memphis area, and was transferred to the D.C. office in 1998 to manage properties from the northern tip of Maine to Norfolk, Virgina, and west to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His portfolio included apartments, warehouses, office buildings, a cave, and golf courses. He also developed properties for Northwestern's portfolio.
Mike leaves a loving family to remember him: his wife, Leslie Anne Bracey Mink; son, Michael Wayne Mink, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Dayle Dykstra Mink; grandson Walter Wayne Mink, II; and granddaughter, Mackenzie Dayle Mink. He also left his beloved West Highland Terrier, Skye Skara Brae.
Other family left are: Michael William Bracey and wife, Kimberly; James Hilton Bracey and wife, Mary Catherine; niece, Lauren Bracey Schick and her husband, Joseph, and their son, Henry; nephew Thomas Bracey and his wife Amy; great nephews Noah and Erik Bracey; nephew Jake Bracey and wife, Jill; as well as Virgil Chase Mink.
Mike's earthly remains will be inurned in The Carriage House columbarium at Memphis Memorial Park at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to:
The Memphis and Shelby County Humane Society, 935 Farm Rd., Memphis, TN 38134 (Skye Skara Brae was adopted from here)
Scottie Kingdom Rescue, ATTN: Jim Buehler, 123 Cedarcrest Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149 (Penny, Baxter & Grace were adopted from here)
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Research Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 (where Leslie was treated).
The family thanks you for the love you have shown Mike and them over the years. We are very blessed.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119 (901) 767-8930.
“Where Memphis comes to remember, since 1924.”
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