Michael Gower Wedlake, aka Mike Wedlake, was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was an 18-year resident of Del Webb in Manteca, and before that a 33-year resident of Redwood City. He died at the age of 85 years old on March 5, 2025 at Doctors Hospital in Manteca, CA.
Mike was born on June 4, 1939 in Fresno, CA to parents Marguerite Lillan Gower (1916-2010) and Richard Heilbron Swartz (1911-1984). His early years were spent living with his mother and grandparents in Fresno. His mother remarried to James Wedlake who adopted him when he was five years old. They moved to San Francisco and later in 1950 they moved to Westlake in Daly City where he attended Jefferson High School and made lifelong friendships. He got a scholarship to play baseball at UC Berkeley, but left after his freshman year and went on to graduate from San Francisco State University with a degree in Physical Education.
After college he served in the Army Reserves with the rank of Staff Sergeant at The Presidio from 1963-1969. In 1966 he became a P.E. teacher at Oceana High School in Pacifica and also coached the junior varsity football, baseball, and soccer teams until 1978. He left teaching to become a successful real estate agent, and worked at Re/Max of San Carlos for 25 years until his retirement in 2007. He was an avid golfer for most of his life, and a lifelong fan of the San Francisco Giants, 49ers, and Cal Bears.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 58 years, Nineveh “Nina” Sayad Wedlake, whom he married on July 17, 1967, at Mission San Juan Bautista; their son, Paul Wedlake; their daughter, Janna Sverdrup, and son-in-law, Per Sverdrup; their grandsons, Jaden Wedlake and Evan Wedlake; and their granddaughters, Sofia Sverdrup, and Sarah Sverdrup—all of whom will miss him dearly.
He will be laid to rest at Turlock Memorial Park and services will be held there on Friday March 21, 2025 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Friday, March 21, 2025
