Michael John Cody

Michael John Cody, age 72, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Monday, November 5, 2018, at his home in Yankton. At Mike’s direction, no formal services will be held. A gathering may be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton. Michael John Cody was born January 24, 1946 in Sioux City, Iowa to John and Harriet (Alden) Cody. When he was twelve years old his family moved to Yankton, South Dakota, where Mike began his devout, lifelong love affair with the City of Yankton. He attended Yankton High School and excelled in every sport the high school offered. And in the summer it was baseball. He was a member of the Yankton Teener Baseball Team and was very proud to represent Yankton in the Teener Baseball Championships in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Yankton High School in 1964 and played football at Yankton College for one year before transferring to the University of South Dakota where he received his Bachelor’s in English. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Dell Imig, on June 14, 1969 and they moved to Denver, Colorado, while Mary Dell finished law school. Two of their boys, Tim and Nick, were born while they were in Denver. In 1971, they moved back to Yankton, where their third son, Andy was born. Mike worked for Mary Dell’s father at Imig Vending Company in Yankton and later purchased the business from him, changing the name to Cody Vending Company. Mike owned and operated Cody Vending in Yankton and was known as the “candy man” to kids all over. They went for rides in the big ole white candy truck and got to pick out their own treat. He loved the kids and the kids loved him. Mike retired in 2001 when he sold the business to his sons and purchased a home in Key West, Florida. Mike completed Massage Therapy School while in Florida and became a licensed massage therapist, another way he helped people. In 2005, they sold their home in Florida and purchase a home in Rancho Mirage, California, where they resided part of the year and still do, enjoying the beautiful Coachella Valley and it’s sunshine. Mike loved helping people and had a passion for social justice. He was a very kind man and was described by a friend as a conundrum of compassion and controversy. He was blessed to have been able to have had the opportunities to travel all over the world with Mary Dell, his family and his friends. Mike was very fortunate to have a host of close friends and enjoyed laughing and spending time with them. Mike was funny…very funny. He was a cook extraordinaire and loved concocting his tasty Italian dishes, sometimes naming them, like one called KaiAngelo. He loved playing and watching sports and biking to his bridge and his river making many stops to visit along the way. A lifelong runner, he would be seen walking in the house wearing medals he’d just received at the S.D. Senior Games. Mike loved living in Yankton, loved all of the dogs he had throughout his life, most recently Molly Boo and Scout and he was absolutely crazy about his grandkids, Carissa Willms and Kai Cody and loved spending time with them. Survivors include his wife, Mary Dell Cody of Yankton; three sons: Tim (Tricia) Cody of Yankton; Nick (Feem) Cody of Rancho Mirage, California; and Andy (Kathrin) Cody of Rancho Mirage; two grandchildren: Carissa Willms of Rapid City, South Dakota and Kai Cody of Yankton; one great grandson, Zenn Willms; six brothers and sisters: Rita Marschall of Reno, Nevada; James (Judy) Cody of Vermillion, South Dakota; Dr. Thomas (Stella) Cody of McQueeney, Texas; Julie (Jerry) Wenner of Park City, Utah; Patrick (Denise) Cody of Yankton; and Nicholas Cody of Yankton; four sisters-in-law: Dona Knapp of Yankton; Mickey (Norm Savery) Tapken of Austin, Texas; Patti Pujol of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Mitzi Fiedler of Key West, Florida. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Harriet Cody; father and mother-in-law, Mike and Irene Imig; and four brothers-in-law: John Marschall, Phil Knapp, Eddie Pujol, and Terry Fiedler. The last thing that Mike wanted everyone to know is that he was very lucky to have had a best friend for over 60 years like Roger Smith and that he got to marry a girl from his 13 year old dreams, Mary Dell. They spent 60 years together and in June would’ve been married for 50 years. All of his dreams came true. To post an online sympathy message to the family please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com.