Michael Hans Zwicke, DIA retiree
Michael Hans Zwicke, 75, of Lewes, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, April 8, 2023. A Delaware resident since August 2012, Mike lived with his wife Debbie in Bay Crossing, a warm and giving 55+ community in Lewes. He and Debbie were married for more than 25 years, and their blended family includes six children and three grandchildren.
Mike's parents were USAF Col. (Ret.) Norbert and Virginia Zwicke. Just after World War II, in the transition from the Army Air Corps to the Air Force, before Mike was born, his father and mother were scheduled for an assignment in Germany. Virginia was studying the German language in preparation. At the last minute, the assignment was switched to Alaska, which was still a territory and at the time, as part of a stepped-up presence to monitor Soviet flights in the far north. Then-Capt. Zwicke was part of a USAF flight crew that flew regularly. Mike was born Jan. 10, 1948, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
During his father's career, Mike and the growing family were stationed with him in numerous stateside Strategic Air Command bases. As an adult civilian, Mike used to say that the military treated the family well, but at times it was like living in a cocoon. That required some adjustment that began with living off the base later.
Mike earned his undergraduate degree at Bridgewater College in Shenandoah Valley and his graduate degree at American University. He worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency for 34 years. After retirement from DIA, he worked briefly for OMNISEC International and then as a contractor for five years with BAE Systems.
In 1997, Mike married the love of his life, Debbie, in Annandale, Va. They each brought three children to the marriage: Mike's are Andrew of Richmond, Va., Jonathan of San Diego, Calif., and Meredith (Jon Jones) Zwicke of Seattle, Wash. Debbie's are Dr. Michael (Heather) of Lewes, Sarah of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and James (Dr. Audrey Green) Ingerski of Port Royal, S.C. Mike and Debbie also have three grandchildren, Josephine, Wilson and Kathryn Ingerski. Mike’s sister, Christina Gregerson, is from Apex, N.C. His brother Phil preceded him in death in 2007. Mike also had numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In college, Mike was on the track team briefly ("until I was blown off the cinders by some faster rabbits"). Even so, he enjoyed running in races ("in the middle of the pack") and on his own until after he retired. He also enjoyed walking, bicycling, photography, reading, crossword puzzles, and most spectator sports, as well as sampling wine. Mike was delighted to find that Lewes had a vibrant Osher Lifelong Learning Institute chapter assisted by the University of Delaware, having previously attended the George Mason University-affiliated chapter in Fairfax, Va.
In Virginia, Mike served for a year as chairman of the Alzheimer's Disease Fund-Raising Committee for the Springfield Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees, which raised a record amount for the chapter. He earlier was a food rescuer for Food for Others in Fairfax. In Delaware, Mike was a volunteer mentor in Beebe Healthcare’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for six-plus years.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 14, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 Second St., Lewes, where friends may visit 30 minutes before the service. A reception will follow the service at Bay Crossing Clubhouse, 17866 Galley Road, Lewes.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a donation in Mike’s memory to the Beebe Medical Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, beebehealthcare.org/beebe-medical-foundation.
Visit Mike’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
