Michael Wilenchik
October 13, 1950 — September 14, 2009
Retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Michael (Tony) Wilenchik passed away on September 14, 2009, at the Odyssey Hospice Center in San Antonio, Texas, after a 3-1/2 year battle with cancer. Tony was born in New Jersey in 1950 and retired in Schertz, Texas, after a career in the Air Force spanning 31 years. Tony spent his last 7 years serving as a councilman for the City of Schertz. He was elected and re-elected 5 times. He also served the public as a member of over 20 civic boards and commissions, including the Schertz Humane Society, Texas Municipal League, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, Operation Homefront Texas Chapter, and a variety of others. He was also one of less than 100,000 Certified Financial Planners in the nation. This enabled Tony to provide free financial counseling and advice to a multitude of people. Through the City of Schertz he facilitated a number of Financial Peace University courses through the Dave Ramsey program. He also provided individual one-on-one financial assistance. Tony was a marathon runner and completed 42 regular and 3 ultra marathons, as a member of the 50 State & DC Running Club he completed marathons in 22 different states, he was unable to achieve his goal by running in all 50 states due to a knee injury. Tony was a compassionate soul by giving his time and becoming the Race Director of the Doggie Dash , a 5K run that raised over $50,000 to care for homeless and abandoned animals. Tony was preceded in death by his mother, Catherine Vanderbeek and father, Max Wilenchik. He is survived by Valerie, his wife of 31 years, and pets Bumper and Walker. Tony was a member of the Oakwood Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Investigational Drug Development unit (IDD) of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) located at 7979 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78229. Visitation will be held at Schertz Funeral Home, 2217 FM 3009, on Friday, September 18, 2009, from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. Services will be at the Oakwood Baptist Church, 2154 SL-337, New Braunfels, Texas at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday September 19, 2009. Interment with full military honors will follow at Hill Country Memorial Gardens, 11700 Highway 46 West, New Braunfels, Texas. A reception will be held at the Schertz Civic Center following interment.
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