CHANDLER, Ariz. — Michael Joseph Noecker, 74, Chandler, Ariz., died March 11, 2025, at Chandler Regional Medical Center, with his wife, Judy, at his side.

Mike was born Aug. 24, 1950, to Joseph Noecker and Dorothy (Bond) Noecker, in Sioux City, Iowa. He grew up in Hartington. Over the years he has shared many stories of his childhood there and all of the shenanigans he pulled with his brother, Tom, and his best friend Tom Lange.

Mike was drafted into the military and served in Vietnam for two years. During his service, he was the recipient of a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for heroism while serving as a cannoneer at Camp Rainier near Dau Teing. After returning from Vietnam, he soon moved to California, where he spent over 20 years working in the landscape industry, right alongside another life-long friend, Keith Eickhoff. He truly loved California and all that it offered.

Mike moved back to Nebraska in the mid 1990s. In 1997, he met Judy and they both knew immediately they had found their soul-mate. In 1998, they moved to Arizona and spent 10 years there. A job transfer then took them back to his beloved California in 2008. In 2015, they made the move back to Nebraska to be with their children, grandchildren and both of their elderly mothers. In August 2024, they moved back to Arizona where Mike thoroughly enjoyed being back in the desert, but mostly he enjoyed precious time with their youngest grandchildren.

Mike was a crossword puzzle enthusiast, and even after his stroke in 2013, he taught himself to write with his left hand so he could complete several very difficult puzzles on a daily basis. This of course, gave him a leg-up when he and Judy enjoyed watching Jeopardy every night after dinner. Mike loved meeting up with friends and family for a few cool ones, and taking Saturday afternoon drives with Judy.

Mike is survived by Judy, his loving wife of 24 years; his son, Jason Noecker, Lincoln; daughter, Crystal, and her husband, Derek Crosby, Norfolk; daughter, Courtney, and her husband, Chris Farrier, Stanton; and son, Zach Vogle, and his wife, Shawnte, Phoenix, Ariz. Surviving in addition to his wife and children, were his five much adored grandchildren, Alexis, Devyn, Eliza, Adalynn and Savannah; his brother, Tom Noecker, Yankton, S.D.; sister, Lori, and husband, Monte Pearson, Phoenix, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews, as well as a countless number of very dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joe, and mother, “Tootie;” his mother in-law, Bonnie Hegemann; brother, John; brothers-in-law, Jim Hegemann, Pat Hegemann and Rol Pfeifer; and three grandchildren, Olivia, Delilah and Weston Vogle.

In Mike’s honor, please consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.