Walter Michels

Walter G. Michels, age 88 of Sauk Centre, died after a long, full life Friday, August 31, 2007 at the Long Prairie Memorial Nursing Home in Long Prairie, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 7 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Todd Schneider officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Sauk Centre Seniors will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5:15 p.m., and Veterans prayer service at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Walt Michels was born April 12, 1919 in Ashley Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Matt and Katherine (Helten) Michels. On September 9, 1940 he married Marian Graham at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The couple resided in Minneapolis for four years and then farmed near Sauk Centre in Ashley Township, Stearns County. He was also employed in road construction throughout the state of Minnesota.He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Sauk Centre Seniors, American Legion Post 67, and Paul F. Donart VFW Post 3853.Walt loved the farm and the flowers, was an avid hunter, and spent many hours woodworking crafts. His family meant the world to him.

Survivors include three children, Graham Michels of Pelican Rapids, Peg Michels (Grover Dimond) of St. Anthony Park, Pamela Borgmann (Michael) of Sauk Centre; ten grandchildren, Rebecca (John) Hofacker, Sandra (Peter) Michels-Bosnak, Wanda (Kevin) Reiger, Gary (Mary), Walter (girlfriend, Stacie), and Rodney (Christy) Michels, Caleb Peterson, Aaron Borgmann, Sara (Mike) Reynolds, and Michela Dimond; eleven great-grandchildren, Andrew and Michael Hofacker, Marlena Bosnak, Shania, Tyler, and Cody Reiger, Grace and Adam Michels, Carter and Caiya Michels, and Declan Reynolds; and sister, Adeline Wolbeck of Sauk Centre.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marian Michels on June 23, 1994; sons, Gary and Gerry Michels; brothers, Joseph, Albert, Charlie, and Leo Michels; and sisters, Margaret Scott and Evelyn Dowell.Serving as casket bearers will be Gary, Walt, and Rodney Michels, Caleb Peterson, Aaron Borgmann, and Sandi Michels-Bosnak. Cross bearer will be Michael Hofacker and scripture bearer will be Wanda Reiger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Tree Memorial and St. Michael's Hospice.