Michael White Obituary

Michael Leland White, age 78, of Indianola, passed away in Des Moines on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. We want to honor and celebrate his life at 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 7, 2025, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. Burial will follow at the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery with Full Military Rites.
Michael proudly served in the United States Air Force for 20 years as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist, retiring with the rank of Technical Sergeant in 1985. While serving, he was stationed around the world-including Missouri, Guam, Montana, Canada, and New York- living a life marked by quiet strength, intelligence, and deep devotion to his country and family.
While stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, Michael met the love of his life, Edena, on a blind date while she was attending Central Missouri University. The two dated for two years and were married in 1968. Together, they built a life full of adventure, love, and lasting memories. Their children were born across the globe-Thad in Knob Noster, Missouri (1969), Michelle in Guam (1970), Jason in Great Falls, Montana (1975), and Ryan in Plattsburgh, New York (1979).
After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, the family returned to Edena's hometown of Indianola and purchased the home of Edena's Aunt Vena Daugherty. Michael went to work for the Indianola Municipal Utilities, serving as a night watchman, meter reader, inventory specialist, and turbine operator before retiring a second time.
Michael was a lifelong learner who continually sought knowledge-particularly in electronics and programming. He completed numerous correspondence courses and training programs, always eager to expand his skills.
He had a wide range of hobbies and creative pursuits. From his childhood, he collected coins and stamps and continued to do so throughout his life. While living in New York, he developed a passion for antiques and furniture refinishing. He also enjoyed woodworking and carpentry. In retirement, he explored new interests including tropical fish, astronomy, marble collecting, stained glass crafting, and winemaking-some bottles turning out wonderfully, others memorable for different reasons. He was an early online gamer, enjoying titles like StarCraft and Warcraft with his sons. He was also a voracious reader of western and science fiction novels, later turning to audiobooks.
Above all, Michael loved spending time and having adventures with his family. Whether fishing, camping, or playing card games, he cherished those moments. He was an avid and competitive cribbage player, especially with his children-never one to let a win pass quietly.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Edena White; children Thad (Mari) White, Michelle White, Jason White, and Ryan White; grandchildren David White, Marissa (Junior) Medina, Phoenix White, Lillyanna White, Levi White, and Bryar White; great-grandchildren Rose Croy, Jemma Croy, Arriana Medina, and Freya White; and his brother, Albert White.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leland and Pauline White.
Michael's legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the values he passed on. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Overton Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorials be made in Michael's honor to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation in support of research for macular degeneration.