Joseph Michels

Joseph R. Michels was born May 12, 1933 in Morris, MN, the son of William and Helen (Ward) Michels. He was raised in Morris where he graduated from high school. Joseph began work for Northwestern Bell Telephone as a janitor. In November of 1951 Joe enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in Korea aboard the destroyer USS Dortch. Following his discharge in November of 1955 Joe returned to Minnesota and continued with his career at Northwestern Bell where he worked on the long distance system as a toll technician. On June 22, 1957 Joe was united in marriage to Virginia Sester in Ortonville, MN. Joe and Gina made their home in Willmar, MN. They were blessed with two children, Pam and Kathy. Joe continued with the telephone company until his retirement in 1990. In 1991 Joe and Gina moved to the Big Stone Lake area where they have resided until 2011. They recently moved to Alexandria, MN to be near family. He was a member of several organizations including the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and the Civil Defense. Joe and Gina spent their winters in Donna, TX and summered on Big Stone Lake in Minnesota. In the summer he loved to spend time fishing. He also spent time hunting deer and fowl. Joe liked playing shuffleboard, yard games and cards. Spending time with his family and friends was most important to Joe. On July 27, 2011, after a brief fight with cancer, Joe died at the age of seventy-eight years. His parents and two brothers, James and John Michels, preceded him in death. Joe is survived by his wife, Gina of Alexandria; two daughters, Pam Christensen and husband, Vic, of St. Cloud, MN and Kathy Mason and husband, Jim, of Tonka Bay, MN; two grandchildren, Jamie Christensen and Lauren McCarthy; and two sisters, Lorraine Holmes of Blaine, MN and Marilyn Columbus and husband, Ron, of Utah. A Memorial Mass was held Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the Church of St. Mary in Alexandria. Reverend Father Steve Binsfeld was the celebrant. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Morris, MN at a later date. Memorials are preferred to the Douglas County Hospice. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.