Michael Steven Stiles

Michael Steven Stiles was born on June 30, 1953 at Fort Jackson located in Columbia, South Carolina. He was the second child of Jack and Alma Stiles. He died unexpectedly on Monday, July 13, 2020 at Advent Health Center.

Michael was an Army brat so he lived many places as a child. He talked often of living in Stuttgart, Germany, and playing with his toy wooden boat in the fountain outside their guest house, and getting treats of sips of beer at Octoberfest. Later on he loved living on an island in the Chesapeake Bay, he often talked of how he would grab a towel and his flip flops and spend the day at the beach. He loved to beachcomb and swim, and let the ocean carry him as he floated. He was also very proud of a Revolutionary War musket ball that he found there. Later the family moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he developed his love of Mexican food and barbecue. His family finally moved to Lees Summit, for his senior year of high school. He graduated there after establishing their first Earth Day program. Michael we very smart, and spent many of his class hours reading in the library with his teachers blessing.

Michael attended Longview Community College where he met Virginia Lee VanCil, known to many as Jenny, whom he later married. They had one son together, John William Stiles of Gardner, Kansas.

Michael attended the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and graduated with honors with multiple degrees including Philosophy, his favorite subject. Later Michael attended the University of Kansas where he earned his Masters Degree with honors in Public Administration while raising a young family and working full time.

Michael worked at Kroger's for a while when he was young, first as a bagger, then stocker, and than as a cashier. He was proud of his job, and worked long hours while attending college. He also worked as a machinist for his brother Terry.

Michael was hired by Social Security at the Mid America Program Service Center in Kansas City, Missouri. He held many jobs there, Benefit Authorizer, Exceptions Examiner, Claims Authorizer, Senior Claims Processing Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist, and Module Manager. He loved that his career was in helping people, and went about it with a dogged determination, to make every action and decision correct, and be as helpful as he could to both his coworkers and beneficiaries. He retired from public service at the end of 2015.

It was in Claims Authorizer class in Social Security that he met the love of his life, Evelyn Jane Hinkle Linder. Michael and Jane were married on May 18, 1991, and lived happily together in Shawnee, Kansas until his death. They had two daughters, Natasha Nicole and Samantha Michelle, who were with him when he passed.

Michael was very smart and was a member of MENSA, he loved having thoughtful conversations on almost any subject. He tried to think before he spoke, and always looked for the best in people. He tried hard not to judge people, and spoke with kindness while following the teachings of Jesus as best he could. He could be a goofball, and loved making faces and telling dad jokes.

MIchael belonged to St. Paul's Methodist Church in Lenexa. He loved attending services there, he was for a time the head of Adult Education, which he loved. He also taught Adult Disciple classes there. His study of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus guided him through life. He often quoted Jesus, and considered himself a Christian.

Michael started collecting and selling books online, prior to his retirement and continued until his death. He enjoyed showIng us different books that he found, and delighted in them. He deeply loved books and treated them with reverence and care.

After retiring, Mike and Jane purchased a large RV, and drove it across the United States, with their daughters and three dogs. Michael hated camping, and wasn't crazy about being outdoors, but he did treasure spending time with his family. He loved hiking in the National Parks and Forests, visiting art gallery's, museums, planetariums, beaches and public gardens. But was just as happy at the end of a long day of sightseeing, to sit outside the RV with a cocktail and laugh along with Stephen Colbert on tv.

Michael cared deeply about people. He campaigned tirelessly for National Healthcare. He was an organ donor, and volunteered for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and others. He donated blood at every opportunity, and handed money to the homeless with a smile and a blessing.

His favorite place to be was at the ocean. Nothing made him happier than a day of snorkeling or beachcombing. He wanted to return to living near the ocean, a dream that he never realized.

Michael was proceeded in death by his parents. He left behind his widow Jane, his children Natasha, Samantha and John, and grandchildren Dakota, Austin, and Justin, his brothers Terry Stiles of Columbia Mo, Chris Stiles of Overland Park and Tom Stiles of Colorado, nieces and nephews.

Michael was deeply loved, and is missed dearly.

A private family service will be held at Amos Funeral home in Shawnee, Kansas on Wednesday July 22 at 4:00 p.m. The service will be live streamed on the Amos Family Funeral Home Facebook Page.  A link will be posted the day of the service. The service will be streamed via Facebook Live, the link can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/AmosFamily/

The family suggests donations in his memory to the Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508