Robert G. Michel passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at Bethel Home in Viroqua, having reached the age of 100 just one week prior.
He was born to George and Anna Michel on Dec. 9, 1917, near Stanley, Wis. In his teens during the Great Depression, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked on projects all over Wisconsin.
As soon as he was old enough, he joined the Army. As a combat engineer, he fought in Africa and up through Europe to Germany during World War II. At one point, he was involved with the liberation of a concentration camp.
After his discharge in 1945, he married Gwendolyn Long on Oct. 24, 1945. They initially lived in Racine, but then bought a farm near Kendall, where they lived for the rest of their married lives. Besides farming, he worked at feed mills in Kendall and Wilton, the Badger Ordnance Ammunition Plant near Baraboo, Wis., and ended his working life at Toro in Tomah.
He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and trapping of all kinds as well as searching for ginseng. He was also an accomplished wood carver and carved chain from one piece of wood as well as deer and other animals. His garden grew an abundance of vegetables, berries and fruits. He had a special touch for everything in the natural world. He was a faithful member of St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Elroy for close to 70 years and had prayed at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Chapel of Perpetual Adoration in Union Center, for many years.
He is survived by his son, Gary Michel, and Gary’s children, Troy and Patrick Michel, and their mother, Sandy; his daughter, Joanne Michel, and her husband, David Esque; Sam’s widow, Sally Michel, their son Timothy Michel, and also his children, Emily Michel and Shane Michel, and their mother, Kathryn O’Gara; and his son Don’s children, Chrystal, Deanna, and John Michel. He is further survived by several great-grandchildren and was especially close to Jenna Bell, whom he taught how to fish, hunt, trap, garden, and everything he knew about nature.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Frank, Lorraine, Jake and Margaret Michel; his beloved wife of 70 years, Gwen; his daughter, Sharon Newsom; his sons, Donald and Samuel Michel; and one grandchild, Amy Michel.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Elroy, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at St Anthony’s Cemetery in Germantown, rural Richland County.
He was a very special man, the likes of which we will not see again. Merry Christmas in Heaven.
