OBITUARY: Ralph B. Michels, c1923-2005, Mitchell County, Iowa

              


                            Ralph B. Michels

A Funeral Mass for Ralph B. Michels, age 81, of Stacyville, Iowa, will be
celebrated on Wednesday, March 16, 2005, at Visitation Church in Stacyville,
with Father Mark Reasoner officiating.  Interment will be in Visitation
Cemetery.

Ralph 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 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.

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

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

He is also survived by his brothers: Eugene and Norbert Michels of
Stacyville, and by Elmer Michels of Dubuque, Iowa.

He is also survived by his sisters: Viola Schuchart, and Agnes Michels of
Rochester, Minnesota, Aunt Irene Michels of Chicago, Illinois, Brothers &
Sisters-In Law: Leon & Lucille Werner of Osage, Geraldine Werner, and Rex
& Mary Ann Machacek of Austin, Minnesota, Roy & Theresa Baldus of Frazee,
Minnesota; and by many nieces & nephews.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements.



              
    Copyright 2005, Mitchell County Press-News   All rights reserved.
    www.mcpress.com -- Posted March 15, 2005