Obituary of Michael Clyde Vyrostek

Michael Clyde Vyrostek, aged 68, died on December 3, 2017 in Osage Beach, Missouri.

Michael (or “Mike V” as his fans and friends knew him) was a talented musician, celebrated for many years of his performances all around the Lake Ozark area. He was known as well for his extraordinary kindness and generosity, and his love of a good conversation.

Mike was born in Jameson, Missouri on April 19th, 1949. The farmhouse where he was born and raised had no electricity or running water – it was “2 bedrooms and a path,” as they say, to the outhouse of the northwest Missouri farm. Residents of Jameson knew everyone in school and/or town along a good part of the county; at the town’s small school, he received a good 3 R's education and participated in music and athletic programs.

Mike grew up camping, fishing, and hunting with his dad, family and friends, with whom he shared a great love of the out-of-doors. The family had plenty of good stories to tell at family get-togethers, which seemed to happen every few weeks at grandma and grandpa's farm near Gallatin, Missouri.  Mike’s dad (and uncles) had hired out as work hands on the farm in the 1930’s, and hopped freight trains to follow work to the wheat harvest fields of Missouri and up through South Dakota. Growing up in rural area with a family that loved to get together and share these tales, Mike’s love of storytelling later melded with his musical talents, and ultimately created the musician, singer and entertainer that he became.

At around 8 years old, Mike took money he had saved and walked a mile to a neighbor’s house, to ask Mrs. Hazel Brown if she would teach him to play piano. His love of music had taken hold, and from then on, he could not walk past a piano or guitar without stopping to play for a while. At 12 years old, he joined the Jameson High School band playing alto sax, and continued playing piano and guitar with friends. Around this time, his brother Wayne would visit from college carrying blues and jazz records by Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Duke Ellington and others, which he’d enthusiastically share with Mike. Within a few years, Mike had learned to play all their music by ear, and he often said that his goal in life was to “sing like Ray Charles and play piano like Dave Brubeck.” Most who have seen him perform at his best would agree that he accomplished both of those goals.

After graduation he went on to study music at University of Missouri St. Louis, and he enjoyed sharing not just his talents, but his knowledge with others throughout his life. Many who met him for the first time would relay stories of illuminating mini-music lessons they had enjoyed during a casual chat.

Music was Mike’s passion, but far from his only talent; he was also known widely as a humorist and philosopher, and a practitioner of the “gift of gab.” In most of his day-by-day interactions Mike would be found lingering a while just to shoot the breeze with anyone and everyone he met.

He spent time in Florissant, Missouri where his family relocated in 1966, and lived in various locations around the St. Louis area before choosing the Lake of the Ozarks as his home for the final 25 years of his life. In 2003, his daughter Andrea invited him to attend Burning Man, the renowned art and culture event where she was a member of the senior staff. Mike was instantly transformed into an avid “Burner” and would return annually for many years with her and his son, Spencer; he’d regale his friends back at the Lake with his wild tales of Burning Man year after year. He also flew to San Francisco regularly to perform with his daughter musically, even sitting in on piano for the music theater production “How to Survive the Apocalypse: A Burning Opera,” for which he wrote an original song, “Transformation,” performed by Andrea as a cast member.

Michael is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Spencer Vyrostek; his mother, Sylvia Vyrostek/Oak, and his brother, Steven Edward Vyrostek.

He is survived by his children, Andrea Michelle Vyrostek/Grace of Berkeley, California, and Spencer Howard Vyrostek of Columbia, Missouri; his sisters Julia Ann Vyrostek/Carter of Sweet Springs, Missouri and Darla Lynn Vyrostek of Liberty, Missouri; his brother Wayne Joseph Vyrostek of Fayetteville, Arkansas; his first wife, Lawanda Jean Pudivitr/Powers of Crescent City, California; his second wife, Kristi Bischoff of St. Charles, Missouri; his granddaughter Juniper Pearlington Grace; and a loving circle of family and friends.

There will be two memorial events held by the family:

A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at Lake Ozark Christian Church, Lake Ozark, Missouri.

 A second Celebration of Life (Musician’s Jam) will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at the Lodge of The Four Seasons in the Marbella Ballroom.

Musician friends who would like to participate or contribute items to a fundraising raffle may contact andie.grace@gmail.com or wjvman@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, family requests you earmark future donations for a musician’s support fund or scholarship to be organized in his memory, which will be announced at the January 28th Celebration.