Michael Edmund Wanner, 66, died on Sept. 11, 2023, in Montreal, Canada after living with Parkinson’s disease for many years.
Born on July 9, 1957, in Schenectady, New York, he was the son of Frances (McCarthy) and Edmund Cochran Wanner.
Mike was a proud Eagle Scout who graduated from the Devon Preparatory School, Devon, Pennsylvania, and afterward from Paul Smith’s College as a true “Smitty” in 1978 before pursuing jazz studies at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington.
Mike loved his wooded property in South Merillsville and spent his time there reclaiming open spaces, building funky sheds, porches, a treehouse and playing piano in his little house. In his yard, an array of re-purposed junk provided the beat for many nighttime percussion jams.
Mike juggled employment in the Adirondacks working both in music and manual labor. He worked at Alder Brook Park and Loon Lake Golf Course. His eclectic musical tastes and instrumental versatility were showcased in the bands he joined. He played guitar in the acoustic folk group, North Branch, stand-up bass in the old-timey quintet, Old Mountain String Band, and drums in the Chicago-style blues band Bluesline. At the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid and the Wawbeek on Upper Saranac Lake, he enjoyed playing jazz standards on the piano and did a stint in New Orleans as well. Mike also composed and performed music for Pendragon Theatre productions.
About 30 years ago, Mike moved to Montreal, where he wed. A proud father, he welcomed his daughter Antonia Michaela D’Elia and cherished his relationship with her. Living in Montreal, Mike immersed himself in the jazz scene and, in later years, concentrated on composing. “WaWa” kept his property in the Adirondacks and visited often to spend time in the woods, check out the Saranac Lake music scene and hoist a pint at Hex & Hop.
Mike is survived by his daughter, Antonia; siblings Barbara Wanner Bruckner (Gerald), Megan Wanner and Walter Wanner; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and a niece, Sarah Bruckner.
Mike enjoyed the outdoors, long political and cultural discussions, and hanging with friends around a campfire. Come and join Mike’s friends and family at a casual celebration of life for him being held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21 at BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake.
In Mike’s memory, please support live music in your community.
