05/15/2026
Mike Sears, a long-time We Care supporter with his donations of beautiful paintings on saw blades, jars, and We Care puzzle designs, has moved on to paint sunsets in Heaven. Mike will always be a part of We Care with the return of many pieces of his artwork donated back to the We Care Telethon year after year.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to Mike's family and his wife Sue.
Michael F. Sears was born on November 15, 1942 in Kokomo, Indiana to Francis C. Sears and Wilma V. Sears. He departed this life May 2, 2026 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Mike and Diana Sue Wilson were married May 15, 1965. To this union were born Stephen and Jennifer.
After high school, Mike went to work at Shearer Printing. He enjoyed running the presses and repairing them when needed.
Mike always had a paint brush in his hand. When he was 14, he was pin striping hot rods. This went on to sign painting. He then painted custom cars. Some of them toured the show car circuit taking many awards for paint.
While listening to the radio, he heard Dick and Charlie ask for items so they could have an auction for a family in need. Without any training, Mike painted a landscape on a stoneware jug. That started his love for We Care. He donated over 1,000 paintings. In his later years, it always thrilled him to see his paintings redonated and auctioned off again. In 2001 he was invited to paint at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. He painted at the Fall Festival for 22 years.
Surviving Mike are his wife Sue, his son Stephen and daughter Jennifer, and his brother Patrick. Two grandchildren. Hannah Kelley (Boris), and Isabella Russell. Great Grandsons, Luca and Oliver Kelley.
Nieces Annie, Janice, Linda, Terri, Gail and nephew Michael.
Preceding him death are his parents Francis and Wilma Sears, in-laws Don and Ruth Wilson, grandparents Frank and Edna Beaman, Frank and Minnie Sears. Son-in-law Ben Russell, brother-in-law and wife Joe and Jean Wilson and sister-in-law and husband Jane and Clarence Maskel.
The family knows Mike is helping God to paint the beautiful sunsets in the evening sky. M
