MICHELS, Ralph B. 1923-2005

MICHELS, HEMANN, WERNER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/25/2009 at 15:05:01

Ralph B. Michels

STACYVILLE, IOWA — Ralph B. Michels, 81, of Stacyville, died Saturday (March 12, 2005) at home.

He was born on the family farm near Stacyville to Anton and Margaret (Hemann) Michels.

Ralph graduated from Visitation High School in Stacyville and then worked on the family farm until entering the Army in 1945.

He was married to Marjorie Werner in 1945 and after discharge from the Army they started farming near Stacyville. The couple raised nine children on their dairy farm.

He was active in 4-H leadership and showing cattle all the while he farmed. In 1970 he started a second career as a Farm Bureau Insurance underwriter while continuing to farm. He retired from Farm Bureau in 1986.

In retirement, Ralph was active in raising, training, and parading draft horses, playing golf, and traveling.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie (Werner) of Stacyville; children, Russ Michels and wife Diane (Tue) of Ft. Collins, Colo., their children Lisa Michels and her husband Scott Stengaard and Melissa and her husband (Jake) Emanual, Norman Michels and wife Marcia (Wilcox) of Lakewood, Colo., their children Tyler and Mikayla, Mark Michels and wife Dianna (Dahms) of New Prague, Minn., Loren (Joe) Michels and wife Mary Ann (Nedved) of Lakeville, Minn., their children Katie, Jon, and Alycia, Jeanne Penfold of East Aurora, N.Y., her children Jesse, Kate, and Abby, Richard Michels and wife Susan Uedelhofen of Atlanta, Ga., Ralph D. Michels and his wife Susan (Cummings ) of Apple Valley, Minn. their children Ben, Kollin, and William. Gary Michels of Ventura, Tony Michels and wife Barbara (Dixon) of Herndon, Va., their children Julia and Anna.

Brothers: Eugene and Norbert Michels of Stacyville, and Elmer Michels of Dubuque.

Sisters: Viola Schuchart, and Agnes Michels of Rochester Minn., Aunt Irene Michels of Chicago Ill., Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Leon and Lucille Werner of Osage, Geraldine Werner, and Rex and Mary Ann Machacek of Austin Minn., Roy and Theresa Baldus of Frazee, Minn., and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Anton and Margaret (Hemann) Michels, brothers-in-law, Wayne Schuchart and Donald Werner, sister-in-law, Agnes Pavlick.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Visitation Church in Stacyville with Father Mark Reasoner officiating. Interment will be in Visitation Cemetery. A wake will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Visitation Church with a rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a wake service at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages that memorials be made to the donor's preferred charity.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements. (641) 713-4920.

[Globe Gazette, March 15, 2005]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visitation Cemetery:

Ralph Michels 1923 -- 2005

(See GPP)