Robert W. Michels

MICHELS, SMITH, ULLRICH, DESOTEL, DETTBARN, LANGRECK, FULLER, BRADY, MILLER, KERNS, MILBACH, WEBER

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 1/14/2008 at 00:57:44

(1924-2008)
HAZLETON --- Robert W. Michels, 83, of Hazleton, died on Friday evening, January 11, 2008 at his home after a brief illness.
Funeral Service 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein; officiating, Rev. Harry Koelker; visitation from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein, where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a parish Scripture service at 7 p.m. Monday; interment: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Hazleton.
A Memorial fund has been established in his name.
Survivors include his daughters: Diana (Charles) Smith of Oelwein, Arlene (Albert) Ullrich of Cedar Rapids, Joyce (Tom) DeSotel of Newhall and Julie (Arne) Dettbarn of Stanley; his son: Ronald (Mary Jane) Michels of Decorah; 19 grandchildren, Thomas DeSotel, Lisa (DeSotel) Johnson, Tara (DeSotel) Neal, Monica Smith, Brynja Ullrich, Michael Smith, Bruce Michels, Michelle Smith, Chad Dettbarn, Tina (Michels) Langreck, Amy (DeSotel) Steele, Daniel Michels, Conrad Ullrich, Melissa (Smith) Fuller, Eric DeSotel, Tammy Michels, Dustin Dettbarn, Kyle Dettbarn and Alex Michels; 19 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Christina (Michels) Brady of Hazleton, Kathryn (Michels) Miller of Independence and Ruth (Michels) Kerns of Fairbank; and a brother, John Michels of Oelwein.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mildred Marie Miller Michels, on May 9, 2002; and a sister, Mary Michels Milbach.
Robert William Michels was born on the family farm east of Hazleton. He was one of six children born to Peter and Elizabeth (Weber) Michels. Robert and his twin sister, Ruth, were born on September 16, 1924. Robert attended school in Stanley through the eighth grade. He then helped his father work their family farm. In his spare time he attended local dances with his sisters and a group of friends. It was there that he met the woman that he would marry. In February 1946 Robert was drafted into the Army and served most of his enlistment in Texas. On May 8, 1947 he was united in marriage to Mildred Marie Miller at St. John's Catholic Church in Independence. The couple returned to Texas where Robert completed his enlistment. They returned to Iowa and took over the Michels family farm. The couple were married for 55 years when Mildred died in 2002. Robert continued to farm until his death.
Robert was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hazleton. Upon closure of the church in 2005, Robert became a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein. He was a fun loving person who always had a playful glint in his eye and a new story to tell anyone who would listen. In later years many of his stories of times gone by were relayed to his grandchildren, who were always considered his most precious gifts. He was a much loved member of St. Mary's Church community, of the Stanley neighborhood that he lived most of his life in, and of his own large family. He will be sorely missed.