Michael Stephen Chandler, age 60 of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on Friday July 19, 2024 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family.

Michael was born Monday April 20, 1964 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of James T. Chandler and Margaret H. (Didier) Chandler. Michael was the fraternal twin to his beloved sister Beth Ann Shanebrook.

Michael joined Didier Printing Company in May of 1984 where he spent a 37 year career retiring in December of 2021 from what is now CPI Card Group.

He was deeply loved and appreciated by those who knew him well. His family and friends were the foundation to who he was as an individual and person. All would agree that he was a loved and respected character with a host of charming and endearing personality traits. He possessed a flair for the dramatic, was strongly opinionated, but a gracious listener. Michael was exceptionally well read and knowledgeable on a vast variety of subject matters. He also dearly loved a good, challenging conversation. His sense of humor, sly little smile and gregarious laugh were all attributes that made him the warm loving character that so many came to appreciate.

Michael had a deep love of the arts in all its many forms and enjoyed opportunities to participate directly or engage in meaningful discussions. He was meticulous and proper in ways that perhaps were "old school", but he also was a free spirit that followed his own path in a very principled and dignified manner. Michael was his own person and never wavered from that conviction. As a gay man, he proudly supported LGBTQ initiatives throughout the community.

Michael's love for exceptional food, wine and drink were a hallmark of who he was as a person. Nothing pleased him more than sharing an excellent meal celebrated with family or friends. The bonds created over these experiences are the memories that we will all cherish.

He was extremely comfortable and confident as to who he was as a person and charted his own course through life. He was consistent and true to his core values and beliefs that grounded him in steadfast principles. Michael was a genuine, sincere individual that lived his life to the fullest extent and deeply loved and appreciated all of his family and friends.

Michael was preceded in death by his father, James T. Chandler and mother Margaret H. (Didier) Chandler. He is survived by his sisters Jeanne Wagner (Tom), Beth Shanebrook (Todd) Karen Hegbli (Ed) and brothers J. Thomas Chandler (Peggy), Jerome Chandler (Lynn) and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael's honor to:

Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection, Inc.
https://positiveresourceconnection.org/

Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc.
https://www.communityharvest.org/


Friends and family may call from 6-8 pm Thursday July 25, FairHaven Funeral Home, 6557 N. Clinton St. Fort Wayne, IN 46825. A Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 am will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church 2130 Pemberton Dr. Fort Wayne, IN 46805 on Friday July 26. Burial in Highland Park Cemetery.