December 11, 2002
The Republican

FEEDING HILLS – Michael J. Wollmershauser of Feeding Hills, MA passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife Joan and his children holding his hands on December 8, 2002 after a long five-year battle with cancer. Mike was employed since 1992 for the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department as a Fitness Trainer/Correctional Officer. Michael was known by many as “Master Mike”. He was an 8th degree black belt in Hapkido, a Korean Martial Art. He was the 3rd highest ranked in the world in this system, holding the esteemed honor of Grandmaster. He was also known as the “Master of Hand Techniques”. He was president of the American Hapkido Association since 1981 to present. He was the owner of the American Hapkido & World Olympic Taekwondo Center in Feeding Hills, MA. He previously owned the J. Parks Karate Studio in Springfield and also taught at the YMCA in Springfield, Janar Gymnastic in Wilbraham, MA, and Fitness First in Feeding Hills, MA as a Hapkido/Taekwondo/Tai Chi instructor. He was also an adjunct professor at Springfield College for 12 years and at Western New England College for six years until joining the Sheriff’s Department in 1992. Prior to studying and teaching martial arts, Mike was employed by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis, MO as an aircraft electrician, and worked on the Gemini Space Program and on jet engines. Mike traveled extensively to Korea to train in Hapkido and also traveled to the martial art schools under his direction in the United States, Europe, India, Australia and many other countries. He passed on his knowledge of Hapkido to thousands and at the time of his passing had promoted 247 black belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo. Mike attributed his ability to fight cancer to the martial arts and to the love and prayers of his family and friends. Mike was an avid chess player who won the McDonnell Douglas World Championship in the 1960s. He was also an accomplished oil painter. Michael is survived by a loving family, his wife, Joan (Shea) Wollmershauser; his mother, Juanita (Grimes) Wollmershauser of St. Louis, MO; his six children, Jonathan W., Michelle J. and Mikala J. Wollmershauser, all of Feeding Hills, Mia Wollmershauser-Wenz of West Springfield, and Steven and Jeffrey Wollmershauser. He leaves four brothers, Ronald B., Arthur G. and David P., all of St. Louis, MO, and Craig D. Wollmershauser of Winters, CA; and one grandchild, Khylyn Wenz. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 from the Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home of Agawam at 10:30 a.m. with a Mass in Sacred Heart Church at 12 noon. Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Springfield. Visiting hours Friday, 2-5 & 7-9 p.m. He will be sadly missed by all whose lives he touched. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Michael Wollmershauser Memorial Fund c/o Joan Wollmershauser, 157 Cambridge St., Feeding Hills, 01030.

[Note: son of Arthur G. and Juanita (Grimes) Wollmershauser, grandson of Hiram B. and Imogene (Copeland) Grimes, great-grandson of Tom and Clara (Bunting) Copeland.]