Mary L. Michels (1942-2020)

MICHELS, VANDYKE, BRUCE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/19/2020 at 07:00:46

Mary L. Michels, 78, of Manchester, Iowa, formerly of Central City, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2020, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa.
All guests are respectfully encouraged to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Funeral services for Mary will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, July, 24, 2020, at the United Church of Christ, the corner of 5th and Main Street in Central City, with the Reverend Vicki Engelmann, officiating. Private family inurnment will follow at Mount Clark Cemetery, Central City.

Mary was born June 26, 1942, in Shellsburg, Iowa, the daughter of Willis and Hazel (Van Dyke) Bruce. She graduated from Shellsburg High School in Benton County, Iowa. Mary was united in marriage to Richard L. Michels, October 14, 1960 in Shellsburg, to this union two children were born. Richard and Mary dedicated their lives to making a home on a farm near Central City. There was no greater reward than living on a farm and raising your family. During these times farming was hard work, but everyone would pitch in and help. Chores needed to be done whether it was tending to the livestock, working the land or harvesting the crops. There was always great excitement to attend the 4th of July festivities, show 4-H projects at the county fair, getting together for a family gathering or attending church functions. Mary retired in 2002 from farming. She was a member of the Linn County Fair board, Linn County Pork Producers, YEWS, United Church of Christ Central City.

She is survived by her children, Dianne (Brian) Wortham, Manchester, Daniel (Elaine) Michels, Llano, California; grandchildren, Emily (Derrick) Schmidt, Jesse Flitsch, Elizabeth Flitsch, Alex (Damaris) Michels, Rachel Michels; great-grandchildren, Alexis Strait, Otto and Oliver Schmidt; siblings, David (Beverly) Bruce, Sarasota, Florida, Walter (Martha) Bruce and Nancy (William) Seely, both of Shellsburg.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband Richard; sister and brother-in-law Ethel (Dick) Sweet.

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