Brother in iron needs your help

[davebeers]

Mike Witmer, accomplished powerlifter, bodybuilder, strongman, husband, and father needs your support and prayers. As a powerlifter mikes best lifts in singly ply equipment in the early 90's included a 925 squat, 600lb bench, and 725 deadlift. Mikes lifted alongside such greats as Ed Coan and Joe Ladnier. Mike and Ryan Kennelly were training partners for the first half of Ryan's benching career. Lately due to what he though was a lower back problem Mike turned his attention to strongman and even planned a comback to bodybuilding. Mike has been a school teacher for over 15yrs and specializes in "behaviorly challenged" kids. Mike also coached the football team and the boys olympic lfting team.
Saturday Mike was feeling weak while helping out the 3rd Annual SW Florida strongest man contest. Shortly after the show Mike had a seizure and was taken by ambulance to lee memorial hospital. Mike had two more seizures that became increasingly worse until the hospital was forced to sedate Mike and place a breathing tube. A cat-scan revealed that Mike has a plum size tumor in the middle of his brain and is intertwinned in both lobes. Neurologist were called in and say that without surgery Mike will die. They will be attempting surgery early this week after moving mike to another hospital. With or without surgery Mike's chances are not very good.
Christi Witmer, also an accomplished powelifter and strongwoman(who took 1st in the womens division yesterday!) is currently in training to be a firefighter and will be finishing school in late November. Mike and Christi also have a four year old son together.
An account has been established at paypal to help Mike, Christi, and Ryan get through this difficult time.
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If you know Mike or interacted with him then please respond in this thread. Tell us how you know him and any funny stories if you have them.

[davebeers]

a great training partner and mentor to me the past 6yrs. I am a better person just from knowing him

[Eric Todd]

That really sucks. We will be thinking of him.
ET

[Tom Mutaffis]

I have known Mike for about two years and he is a one of the most positive, helpful, and genuinely nice guys that you will ever meet. He has a true passion for strength sports and his family; and would always come with his Wife and Son to training even if just to coach others or to bring equipment for us to use.

It is hard to come up with just one story but Mike is the kind of guy who will always have the group laughing with funny stories from the school where he works or from his powerlifting adventures.

When Mike collapsed on Saturday it was a scary moment, and immediately obvious that something serious was wrong. He is always very strong when it comes to battling through injuries and hopefully this case will be no different.

If everyone on this site can help out I know that he and his family would be very grateful. Even a small donation will make a difference. Mike is the type of person who would do the same for you if you were in this position.

(attached is a photo of Mike from a couple of months ago, he is in the red shirt)

[brandon mcdonald]

he will be in my prayers, i saw him getting taking out on the stretcher. hope he can pull though, he seems tough so i think he can. when i get home i will send a donation and i hope others will also.

[Eric Sawatzky]

My thoughts and prayers to him and his family!

Eric

[Pat Wilson]

Mike is a true warrior and strength athlete, a great father, husband, friend and is such a benevolent person! I love Mike! When I heard this tragic news I got really upset and down. He was always helping me get better and better at strongman and bench pressing he contributed to my technique on the bench a true world class strength athlete! With his technique I have been able to bench 405lb for reps with no problem at all. Ive known mike for 4yrs and I cant tell you how much a donation will help Mike and he would do it for anyone.. Mike has a son named Ryan and he is the cutest thing, and he is lucky to have Mike as a father and Mike is blessed to have such a great boy....if Ryan lost the chance to really get to know his father that would be even more tragic.

Mike is a funny guy and has way to many stories to mark down. I remember tons of stories and just speaking with him I was learning. I would stay after my workouts to just learn and listen cause he was that much fun and wise to be around. Mike is so wise he knows so much about life in general not to mention about pl and sm. He inspired me to be something cause I screwed up in high school and wasnt the best kid 15-16yrs old which kids really are not at this age, he specialized in this lol. He has contributed to motivating me to get a higher education and I am in college making something of myself now and have been for over a year now! Such a great person. Mike is a true person with very high morals and a loving individual. I can be here all day typing about Mike he is that special of a person. Mike if you are reading this call me I missed you and it was good seeing you there at the contest we used to be close but we have been moving further a part and I have been busy and so have you. Pull through this Mike it is going to be hard but I know you can pull through this you're so strong this is nothing for you. Donations are needed.

I am in shock still and want to go visit him but dont know how. Dave when you read this please contact me on how to visit him.

[jay lyttle]

that story justs tears me up inside! with all the rotten people that are walking around this planet taking up oxygen, you hear of a great guy like mike in this situation. dont know the man myself but the words that have been written here pretty much paints a picture of who he is and what he's about. my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this terribly tough time.
jay lyttle/mandy keefer

[JustinLallemand]

Man, sorry to hear that. I can't believe all of the bad stuff that seems to happen to this little subculture (you might say) of ours. Last night I just heard Bob Youngs has had some serious health issues as well (he is one of the first guys on Dave Tate's site and his training partner I believe).

Please let me know if I should start a different thread, but here is a link to Bob's condition:
http://bobyoungs.blogspot.com/

I plan to donate what little I can and will be praying for both of these "good guys" of the strength sports.

[JustinLallemand]

Mike is a true warrior and strength athlete, a great father, husband, friend and is such a benevolent person! I love Mike! When I heard this tragic news I got really upset and down. He was always helping me get better and better at strongman and bench pressing he contributed to my technique on the bench a true world class strength athlete! With his technique I have been able to bench 405lb for reps with no problem at all. Ive known mike for 4yrs and I cant tell you how much a donation will help Mike and he would do it for anyone.. Mike has a son named Ryan and he is the cutest thing, and he is lucky to have Mike as a father and Mike is blessed to have such a great boy....if Ryan lost the chance to really get to know his father that would be even more tragic.

Mike is a funny guy and has way to many stories to mark down. I remember tons of stories and just speaking with him I was learning. I would stay after my workouts to just learn and listen cause he was that much fun and wise to be around. Mike is so wise he knows so much about life in general not to mention about pl and sm. He inspired me to be something cause I screwed up in high school and wasnt the best kid 15-16yrs old which kids really are not at this age, he specialized in this lol. He has contributed to motivating me to get a higher education and I am in college making something of myself now and have been for over a year now! Such a great person. Mike is a true person with very high morals and a loving individual. I can be here all day typing about Mike he is that special of a person. Mike if you are reading this call me I missed you and it was good seeing you there at the contest we used to be close but we have been moving further a part and I have been busy and so have you. Pull through this Mike it is going to be hard but I know you can pull through this you're so strong this is nothing for you. Donations are needed.

I am in shock still and want to go visit him but dont know how. Dave when you read this please contact me on how to visit him.

These guys have the kind of unbelievable will power that most people don't even understand. I hope they can amaze their doctors with it and get past this crap - both MIKE and BOB!

[Wayne Meyer]

This is a sad day in the Strongman / Power Lifting world. One of the true “good guys” of the sport is in need of our prayers’ and support.

As many have stated on here Mike Whitmer is loved and respected by many. I met Mike and Christi his wife at World Gym in Fort Myers about three years ago. I was immediately drawn to Mike’s passion for lifting and his sense of humor.

Mike always made me laugh regardless of the situation and he is a person who would take time out of his schedule to help a friend.

Mike took lifting seriously but not himself. He always knew where his priorities lied: family, friends, career, and then lifting.

In January of this past year Mike was in my wedding. Attached is a photo of the wedding. Please help show your support by making a financial contribution and amount will help.

Please keep Mike and his family in your prayers.

[Vincent.Dametta]

Wow, my thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. So sad. As well as Bob.

[davebeers]

Due to his condition Mike's surgery is being moved up to today. He will be moved from Lee Memorial to Healthpark Medical Center @8 and then surgery is scheduled for 1pm.
Please keep him in your prayers

[Tom Mutaffis]

Mike passed away tonight at 10:02 PM.

[Margaret Boyle]

So so sad I wish I didn't hear that. God bless his family! May he rest in peace.

[rjpe99]

Mike passed away tonight at 10:02 PM.

So sorry to hear. My prayers will be with his family and friends.

[Jay Hagadorn]

I am so sorry to all you guys that are friends with him. I will be praying for you and for his family.

[Bob Toth]

God bless Mike's family and friends..
RIP Mike

[Tom Mitchell]

This is a tragic loss. Strength athletics has lost a true ambassador and role model.

Our prayers are with Mike's family.

[Ryan Rhodes]

I'm so sorry guys. He sounds like he was a great person.

[Jonathan Creason]

Sorry to hear of his passing. His loved ones will continue to be in my prayers.

[Joshua Davis]

It's hard to remember Mike not having a smile on his face. He was definitely one of the good guys and will be missed sorely. As a father with a son around the age of his and Christi's son, I cannot fathom what Christi is going through.

Christi, I pray you and your son are able to find peace at this time.

All you guys that trained with Mike, I envy the time you spent with such a good man.

He brought a lot to the table for Florida strength athletics, and his absence will be felt sorely.

[JustinLallemand]

Sorry to hear...terrible news.

[Joe Stanton]

WOW!...I am so sorry to hear this horrible news. It really makes you reflect on your own situation about what is most important. Sounded (and looked) like a really good gentleman.

[davebeers]

Its been a very rough couple days, still doesn't feel like it really happened. Mike's wife Christi has lots of family around her and is surrounded with love. thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and donations.



Michael Wayne Witmer, 43yrs old and long time resident of Arcadia, passed away Monday night after he was overcome by a recently discovered brain tumor. Mike passed away at Healthpark Medical Center in Fort Myers.
Mike came with his parents to Arcadia at a young age, excelled in many sports and especially had a passion for football. Mike became a corrections officer but still felt a strong pull towards his true passion which was teaching. While working full time he acquired a bachelors degree in education from USF. Mike taught for over 15yrs with the majority of those being at Desoto high school. Mike was also an accomplished powerlifter, bodybuilder, and strongman. He has many records in powerlifting including world records. Mike enjoyed mentoring and teaching young lifters also and many of his lifters went on to break records. Mike's kind smile and joyful demeanor made him a pleasure to be around. He touched many people lives with his wisdom and willingness to teach.
A visitation will be held Thursday night at First Baptist Church of Arcadia from 5-7pm. Services will be held Friday at the same location at 11am. Burial will follow. Donations can be sent to 2092 NE Opal Dr. Arcadia, Fl. 24266