Michael Wegner

Michael Wegner (72) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in his home in Flowery Branch, in the early morning hours of November 15, 2023, after battling a long illness.

Michael was born in Hannover, Germany to the late Paul Hein & Annemarie Jahs. He grew up in a multigenerational home and was later adopted by his grandparents, Fritz & Marie Wegner. Fritz owned an automobile service station, and by a young age, Michael had developed his love for machines and tinkering that stayed with him throughout his life.

Michael was enthusiastic about aviation and engineering and always had a project on the workbench. He caught the “flying bug” in his 20s, a passion he pursued for nearly 50 years.

Persistent, dedicated and meticulous, his mind was almost never at rest and he tried to have an answer for everything. Being German was a point of pride: socks with Birkenstocks or an after-work beer were a common sight around the home, office, or airfield. Wandering the mountains with family, especially the North Georgia Mountains and the Alps of Northern Italy, brought him immense joy. 

As a young man in Hannover, he volunteered as an ambulance driver with the German Red Cross where he met his future wife, Monika Wegner (née Wernke). In 1975, Michael and Monika married and started their remarkable life together. In 1982, after completing a master’s degree in electrical engineering, earning his pilot’s license, and welcoming a daughter, Maike, into the world, he was accepted as a Carl Duisberg Society scholar for a work-study program in the United States. 

Michael and family landed in Atlanta where he attended Georgia Tech as a part of his program, and the family decided to start building a life in Georgia. Son, Markus, was born shortly thereafter in 1983, and the family settled in Gwinnett County for the next 35 years. 

Michael continued his passion for aviation by joining the Mid-Georgia Soaring Association where he was an avid glider pilot and tow pilot for over 30 years. His community involvement was rekindled through Civil Air Patrol where he supported the organization’s missions of emergency services, search and rescue, and youth education in aviation and aerospace. He loved taking CAP cadets on orientation flights, often their first experience flying an aircraft.

In his professional life, Michael worked his way up from engineering to management and eventually built up a successful business, IP Systems. He dedicated himself to the business, took immense pride in his work, and was able to pass the business on to his children and son-in-law. Michael is survived by his wife, Monika Wegner; daughter and son-in-law, Maike & Matthias Kleine with grandchildren, Maria Kleine & Max Kleine, of Flowery Branch; son and daughter-in-law, Markus Wegner & Kiera Reifschneider of the Netherlands; as well as many relatives throughout Germany.

He was loved and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, December 4th at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch. The Memorial Mass will begin at 11:00 am and will be followed by a reception. The family will then depart with a small group for the inurnment at Honey Creek Woodlands, at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. 

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation to Michael’s local Civil Air Patrol Squadron in one of two ways: 

1. Donating online < https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/?form=FUNJZCYYDCY>. You can dedicate the donation to Michael Wegner if you wish.

2. Mailing a check made payable to “Civil Air Patrol – GA112” to: 18 Candler Park Court, Winder, Georgia 30680. 

Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.