Michael Tinker

Michael Edward Tinker, of Osawatomie, self-proclaimed “Man of the World”, spent 59 years embracing life. Mike’s time has come for his ultimate adventure. Mike was born September 19, 1958 to Judith Taylor (Tinker) in Garden Grove, California. They later relocated to the Filmore, CA area where Mike had many childhood adventures which included Boy Scouts and catching snakes & lizards out in the wild. Mike and his family moved to Kansas in 1969 where he graduated from DeSoto High School. Mike went on to work for Marley Cooling Tower as a Fabrication Technician for a number of years. While working for Marley, he got the experience of visiting South Korea in order to train Marley’s partner company in the fabrication of fan blades. After leaving Marley he went on to work for the City of Paola; Public Works Department. Mike had been with the Paola Public Works for 16 years, with his most recent title being Public Works Foreman. On August 21, 1985, Mike became the proud Daddy of a beautiful baby girl, Tiffany. Many moons later, Mike met the love of his life, Beth, on July 4, 2007. After 10 years spent as best friends and falling wildly in love, on October 21, 2017, they celebrated their undying love by joining as one in marriage. Through their marriage Mike officially gained two step-kiddos, Forest and Chelsea. Mike proudly became Papa to his first grandchild, Seth Michael Courtney, on February 8, 2011. He gained 4 granddaughters, Tirzah-Rose, Jaylah, Kierah, & Lyrah, and earned the title of Poppo through his marriage to Beth. As a man of many adventures, talents, and interests, Mike wholeheartedly enjoyed taking rides on his Harley, deer hunting, fishing, traveling to the Ozark & Ouachita mountains of Arkansas, making beautiful dreamcatchers & walking sticks, camping, canoeing, hiking, doodling, and studying Native American culture and history. He loved animals of all kinds, but especially loved to spoil the many puppy dogs he had over the years. In earlier years, he was an avid dirt biker. Mike was very passionate about all his interests and truly loved to teach and talk about his interests with his loved ones. Mike loved many people and many people loved Mike back. Some of those who will miss him the most are his wife Beth (Stainbrook) Tinker of their Osawatomie home, daughter Tiffany Courtney and her husband Chris of Paola, step-son Forest Sears and his wife Heather of Paola, step-daughter Chelsea Ison and her husband Josh of Lenexa, parents Jack and Judith Tinker of Lebanon, MO, grandchildren Seth Courtney & Tirzah-Rose, Jaylah, Kierah, & Lyrah Sears – all of Paola, sister Patty Wilson and her husband Mark of Killeen, TX and their kids & grandkids, sister Sherry Cordle of Shawnee, KS, and Mike’s doggies Gerty & Tater of the Osawatomie home. The family welcomes Mike’s friends, co-workers, and other loved ones throughout the community to join us for a Celebration of Life service on June 24, 2018, 5:00 p.m. at Miami County Fairgrounds – Paola, Building #4. Everyone should feel free to have stories to share about Mike. Please bring a dish for a potluck dinner. Mike’s favorites will also be provided. Please consider a memorial contribution to one of the following charities in Mike’s honor: ARDS Foundation – ardsglobal.org – an organization dedicated to advocating for victims of ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and their families, working towards humanizing Intensive Care Units, represents the voices of the victims and family in all aspects of medical research, guidelines, and protocols while working closely with those at the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Chahta Foundation/Choctaw Nation – chahtafoundation.com – an organization supporting the Choctaw people through innovative services and programs in education, health and wellness, and cultural citizenship. Their mission is to empower the Choctaw people to be self-reliant and take active ownership in the advancement of Choctaw life and culture. Family and friends are encourage to post their condolences and memories on Michael's Tribute Wall.