Mike Kledzik: He loved teaching people about wine

Mike Kledzik had a penchant for fine wines, having spent more than three-quarters of his life working in the wine and spirits industry.

"He knew everything about wine and loved teaching people about it," said Bonnie Brown Kledzik, his wife of 16 years, adding he couldn't get through a gathering of friends or families without someone asking him questions about wine. "They would want to know which were the best wines and the difference between the first and second crushing."

As a senior member of the sales team for PRP Wine International, which sells wines from boutique vineyards, he could explain that and more.

The Tavares resident was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer a year ago. He died Oct. 30 at 71.

Born in Melvindale, Mich., Kledzik moved with his family to the Orlando area when he was 7. A year later his father died. His mother singlehandedly raised him and his nine siblings. In 1960, he graduated from Bishop Moore High School and later served three years in the Air Force.

Mike and Bonnie met at a singles dance at a Methodist church in downtown Orlando and dated for three years before they married. Although they had their own successful careers, they enjoyed their time together doing things they liked such as travelling especially cruises to Europe, where Mike hosted wine-tasting lectures.

He enjoyed being around others.

"He loved life and his life was meeting people," said his sister Georgia Bender, 78, of Altamonte Springs. "Once you met him, you felt like you had always known him.Mike was a part of so many people's life, if you had a problem he wanted to know about it and see if he could fix it."

He was active in the community and volunteered during fundraisers for Cornerstone Hospice, St. Paul Catholic Church in Leesburg and served as auctioneer numerous times for Mission Inn Resort & Club's annual Florida Junior Golf Auction.

"He also was a generous soul," said his 68-year-old wife, a retired interior decorator.

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Mike Kledzik: He loved teaching people about wine