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John Michael Wolfe, founder of South Salem CycleWorks - A remembrance

Michael’s final ride took him from us on July 5, 2026 after battling an aggressive blood cancer.

John Michael Wolfe was born January 26, 1954 in Trenton, Missouri to Martha Mann and Jackie Wolfe. Michael was the eldest of 5 siblings. The family, with stepfather Al Simpson, moved around the west, finally settling in Salem.

Michael lived a full life in Oregon including Salem and Eugene. He earned a BA & MA at OCE (Western Oregon University). While living in Eugene, Michael worked at Hawkeye’s The Good Life outdoor recreation store. It was there that he discovered a deep passion for bicycles, appreciating them as both a meaningful and eco-friendly way to travel and a source of recreation.

He enjoyed a long bicycle trip across the southern USA, many travels in the San Juan Islands, along the Oregon coast, and a memorable trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. For more than three decades, Michael was the proud owner of South Salem Cycleworks. In 2017, he shifted the business to an online platform, and in 2026, he gladly handed over the reins to his nephew-in-law and trusted, long-time manager, Nate Taylor. Michael had a gift for matching each person with the perfect bicycle, finding his greatest joy in the world of road cycling. He became a specialist in Mondonico bicycles, imported from Italy and hand built by Antonio Mondonico.

Michael and his wife, Barbara Wolfe, spent many happy hours exploring plant nurseries together, inevitably coming home with a car full of unexpected but delightful plants. Together they built home gardens that brought hours of joy as they watched birds, butterflies, and squirrels that stopped by to sing a song or savor a snack. Michael and Barbara had several cats over the years, who enjoyed watching garden activities from windows or curled up in their laps.

Michael leaves behind his beloved wife, Barbara, his loving mother, Martha Nesbitt, his siblings, Patrick Wolfe, Teresa Mallett, Letitia Joy, and Lisa Garcia, alongside many nieces and nephews, who will cherish his memory. He also leaves behind his lifelong best friend, Chuck Burleigh, with whom he shared many shenanigans and unforgettable adventures.

A Celebration of Life will be held later this summer.