Michael John Fitzwater

Michael John Fitzwater, 78, of Papillion, NE, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026. He was born on May 24, 1947, in Covington, KY, to Leslie and Martha Fitzwater.

Michael attended Purcell High School and later the University of Cincinnati. His college years were marked by endless games of intramural college sports, a little studying, and spending time at the Newman Center, where he met life long friends and his beloved wife, Sharon. They were married on August 28, 1970, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned fifty-five years. A dedicated father to two daughters, Michael took great pride in how his wife and daughters embraced and thrived through the many moves of military life. He was blessed with 2 wonderful sons-in-law and 4 grandchildren.

Michael dedicated his life to service. He enlisted in the Air Force in April of 1971, was selected for the Medical Service Corps, and commissioned in July 1975. He served honorably for 30 years at various stations around the world, retiring as a Colonel on May 1, 2001 in San Antonio, TX.

After a few years of enjoying retirement, he returned to the Papillion area to work at Creighton Medical Center in 2004. Since then, he has become active in the St. Columbkille Knights of Columbus, becoming a 4th Degree Knight. You could always find him making omelets at the pancake breakfasts or serving up platters at the Friday night Fish Fry. He dedicated his life to the church, spending 45 years as a lector, and serving the local communities where he was stationed.

In his later years, he embraced the role of doting grandfather and enjoyed traveling, eventually crossing all 50 states off his list. He found joy in learning to paint, meticulously enhancing his coin collection, and remained a steadfast fan of his "Bungals" and the Cincinnati Reds.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sharon; daughters, Melissa (Adam) Frohman and Sara (Jacob) Bonnot; grandchildren, Calleigh, Gabbie, Hannah, and Alex; and siblings, Shirley Harrington and Tom (Sue) Fitzwater. He was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Martha, and his siblings, Jerome Fitzwater and Janice Möessinger.

Michael will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His legacy will live on through his family’s continued acts of service and his favorite guiding principle: “Think long term.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Columbkille Conference of the Saint Vincent DePaul Society or your favorite Veterans Associations.