James Michael Sanner

James Michael Sanner, 72, died Sept. 8 at home with his family after fighting an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer. His brief, intense battle lasted less than a month, which left everyone who knew him shocked and heartbroken.

Mike’s family will gather for a private memorial service.

Mike was born March 23, 1953, in Coldwater, Kansas, the son of James C. and Lee Sanner. He was the eldest of eight children—three sons and five daughters.

Mike spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Wichita, Kansas. As a sophomore at Wichita Southeast High School, he met Cathy Fanning, his high school sweetheart who in 1974 became his wife.

The Sanner family moved to Topeka, Kansas, the summer before Mike’s senior year in high school. Mike moved in with Cathy’s grandmother, Ester Wadsworth, to finish his senior year and graduate from Wichita Southeast.

He attended the University of Kansas, where he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and graduated with highest honors in 1975 from the School of Business. Mike earned admission to The Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia, where he finished his MBA in 18 months. He and Cathy were ready to return to Kansas and their family.

In December 1976, he began his career with the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen in Kansas City. During their nine years in Kansas City, Mike and Cathy made many lifelong friendships and their eldest daughter, Emily, was born.

Mike continued to advance at Arthur Andersen and was transferred to Oklahoma City office, where he became a partner and a trusted, generous mentor to many younger colleagues. Mike eventually led his Oklahoma City team in joining the accounting firm of Ernst & Young, and he became managing partner of the Oklahoma City office.

During their early years in Oklahoma City, Mike and Cathy welcomed the births of their son, Christopher, and their youngest daughter, Kathryn. Oklahoma City became their permanent home.

Mike retired at 60, which was expected in his position. He and Cathy began to travel the world, and he perfected his golf game. Retirement also freed Mike to travel to Lawrence, Kansas, to watch his beloved Jayhawks compete in football and basketball. He was an especially devoted supporter of KU basketball.

In his professional and civic life, Mike served as a member of the Oklahoma branch of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy for 10 years. He served on the Board of Directors for Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Bank 7 and The Genesis Project. He was very happy and grateful to help guide these organizations, and he earned the respect and friendship of everyone he worked with.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Jim Sanner; his oldest daughter, Emily Sanner; his sister Pattie Sanner; his brother Bob Sanner; and his niece Amy Stadler.

He is survived by Cathy, his wife of 51 years; his son, Christopher; his youngest daughter, Kathryn McKenzie, and her husband, Rickey, and their three children, Jett, Jaxson and Aria; and his daughter Emily’s two children, Sylas and Lyric Noe.

Survivors also include Mike’s brother, Steven Sanner, and his wife, Dee; Mike’s four sisters: Barbara Sanner; Karen Stadler and her husband, Claude; Marilyn Kay Segura; Amy Sanner Booth and her husband, Colin; Mike’s sister-in-law, Jennifer Jackson Sanner; many nieces and nephews and great- nieces and nephews.

Other survivors include his father-in-law, Bud Fanning; and his brothers-in-law, Jim Fanning and his wife, Marie; and John Fanning and his wife, Nancy; his nephews and his niece.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mike’s memory to The Stephenson Cancer Center, 800 NE 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104.