Dr. Michael Wayne Felz

Dr. Michael Wayne Felz was born on October 30th, 1950 in St. Joseph, Missouri, then grew up in the small farm town of Albany, MO. Mike was the first of three children of Larry and Joyce (Guess) Felz. He went to be with his heavenly father on Sunday May 3rd, 2026 at the age of 75.

Mike attended Gentry County Missouri middle and high schools, graduating in 1968. Mike then enrolled at the University of Missouri, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and graduated with bachelors and masters degrees in Zoology. Mike then returned to Mizzou for medical school. During this time, he gave his life to Christ, which - next to his marriage - he described as the pivotal event of his life.

Mike married Susan Lynn (Pearman) Felz on August 16th, 1980 at his hometown Methodist church in Albany, MO. Susie and Mike had originally met in high school, at which time Susie found him arrogant and of no interest. Mike and Susie then re-met while Mike was in medical school, when Mike was a changed man (which he credited to his salvation). Susie and Mike fell in love and married shortly thereafter. Mike’s love for Susie remained steadfast throughout his life. As he never failed to tell his children, “You will outdo me in everything - but you will never marry better than I did.”

Mike and Susie initially lived in Rockford, IL, where Mike completed his residency. They then embarked on three years of adventure, serving as missionaries for the Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Mike served as the sole doctor in the small, remote missionary village of Ukarumpa, serving his fellow missionaries and local tribes with equal dedication. By necessity, he became a rare practitioner of “field medicine” - performing diagnoses by feel, setting bones and sprains by hand, treating war wounds(!), delivering babies with no anaesthetics, and learning not just to take x-rays - but also to hand-develop the exposures under infrared light! In parallel, Susie and Mike traveled through the New Guinea highlands with their children, translating the Bible into the local pidgin while seeking to meet the needs of the communities they served. Mike remained dedicated to the people of Papua New Guinea throughout his life. Even in 2008, Mike worked with his local Rotary Club to purchase large quantities of malaria-preventing mosquito nets for the villages he previously served. Mike then traveled, in person, back to New Guinea to deliver the nets, talking his way through a local warlord and an armed conflict to get them there. Mike captured his favorite memories from New Guinea in his book, “More Than Medicine: 17 Remarkable Vignettes in Papua New Guinea.”

After New Guinea, Mike and Susie visited Susie’s parents in Augusta, GA in 1987. Mike saw an ad in the paper for an open position at the Medical College of Georgia. So while visiting, he applied, was interviewed, and got the job! Mike and Susie have lived in Augusta since then. Mike served as both a practicing physician and a Professor of Medicine at MCG (now Augusta University) for over 20 years. His passion was teaching family medicine to students and residents, who consistently voted him Most Outstanding Faculty for teaching. He was also an avid researcher, helping to prove the transmission of Lyme Disease by ticks, and working to ascertain the most effective method for disease-preventing tick removal. Mike practiced family medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology at MCG’s clinics. He was also a regular volunteer at his local Salvation Army clinic for the homeless. During his latter years, his passion for teaching bore unexpected fruit, and Mike’s former students - now practicing physicians - were able to care for him.

Mike and Susie are the proud parents to four kids: Daniel, Anna, Joe and Tim, all of whom survive Mike. Mike was a dedicated husband, a present father, a committed church member and deacon, and an active member of the community. Throughout his life, he was an avid runner, triathlete, bicyclist, outdoorsman, and Bible scholar. He treated his medical practice as a way to care for others, often visiting patients in their homes while joyfully providing meals and presents during holidays. He loved an early morning breakfast meeting, practical jokes, giving out candy to children for any reason whatsoever, and found the most joy in being a father. Susie was the light of his life.

Mike loved Jesus and led his family with His teachings. He served as a teacher and deacon at Grace Baptist Church in Evans, where he was a member for over 30 years. Over the last 12 years of his life, he battled with Parksinson’s Disease. Never once did his faith waiver, and Susie always brought a smile to his face.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Susie Felz, all four of his children, his sister Mindy (Felz) Marsh, brother Mark Felz, grandchildren Callie James Felz; Lily and Mikey Felz; Townes and Mary Frances Felz.

Memorial Services will be held at Grace Baptist Church on Saturday May 9th at 4:30PM, with visitation immediately following. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to Wycliffe Bible Translators: https://www.wycliffe.org/donate

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com