MICHAEL JACOB WALDNER , of Cherokee, IA, passed away on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the age of 79, surrounded by family at Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 10th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Father Daniel Rupp will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 9th from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening at the Boothby Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com .

Mike was born on May 27, 1943 to Jacob and Sarah (Gross) Waldner near Tabor, South Dakota. He was raised in the Bon Homme Hutterite Colony. Although he left the colony at the age of 17, his Hutterite heritage and close ties to his siblings never ceased.

On December 23, 1969, Mike was united in marriage to Kathleen M. Feeney and, together, made Cherokee, Iowa their hometown for over 50 years. Mike joined the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church as his faith and family grew. Mike was an entrepreneur who was incredibly dedicated to the family business, Waldner's Lawn Service, that he built from scratch in 1976. While working at the Cherokee Concrete plant he spent endless nights and weekends building this lawn care business.  Pleasing his clients, working on his Kubota tractors, and making contributions to his community brought him great joy. Completing the landscaping and sprinkler systems at the Cherokee Courthouse, Boothby Funeral Home, and Cherokee Library were a few projects he was extremely proud of throughout the years.

Mike was also extremely proud of the family he and Kathy created. Their kids, grandkids and great grandkids brought Mike the greatest pride and joy.  In his spare time he loved collecting toy Kubota tractors, meeting friends for afternoon coffee, fishing, and most of all, spending time with his family. In Mike's mind, retirement was something he could never really accept as his work ethic was unstoppable. In May 2019, his family had a retirement party for him; however, he still enjoyed helping the business with snow removal in the tractor.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Preacher Jacob and Sarah Waldner; siblings: Jacob Waldner, Sarah (toddler) Waldner, Michael (infant) Waldner, Susanna (infant) Waldner, Preacher David Waldner; and his parents-in-law Wyman and Mary Feeney.

Left to celebrate his life are his beloved wife, Kathy; his three children: Michelle (and Randy) Becker, Mitchell, SD; Melissa Mallison (and special friend, Dustin Konrady), Cherokee, IA; Jeffrey Waldner, Paullina, IA; grandchildren: Nathan Hunter, Alyssa Becker, Kira Hunter, Dakota Becker, Justin (Tanya) Mallison, Cody Mallison, Brandan Mallison, Kayden Waldner, Jack Waldner, Kyle Waldner; great-grandchildren: McKayla Mallison, McKenna Mallison, Kylee Mallison, Jacob Mallison; siblings: Jonathan Waldner, Peter Waldner, Susanna Stahl, Rachel Wurtz, Samuel Waldner, Sarah Waldner; brother in-law Joe (Bev) Feeney and many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.

The family would like to thank Dr. Wesley Parker and the compassionate, kind staff at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center for his care.