Edwin Michel

Edwin Ferdinand Ernst Michel, one of three children of Otto and Louise Michel, was born October 3, 1920 on the family farm near Johnson, Nebraska. Edwin was baptized on October 24, 1920 at the family home, and was confirmed at St. Paul (Hickory Grove) Church on June 9, 1935. He attended Roosevelt Rural School District #26 through the 8th grade. Being the only boy in the family, Edwin was in charge of helping his father with the farming growing up.

At the age of 21, Edwin was drafted in to the United States Army and was to serve in World War II. He was stationed at Fort Francis Warren in Cheyenne, WY with Company K 1st Quarter Master Training Regiment. Shortly after entering the service he was hospitalized with influenza and double pneumonia. After receiving his discharge in August of 1943, Edwin returned home to farm the home place.

On October 24, 1943, Edwin was united in marriage to Elsa Eitzmann at St. Peters Lutheran Church near Byron, NE. After their marriage, Edwin and Elsa moved back to the Michel homestead in rural Johnson to farm. Five children were born to this union: Norman, Laverne, Maynard, Kenneth, and Carolyn.

While living on the farm, Edwin and Elsa were members of St. Paul (Hickory Grove) Church. In 1978, they moved to Auburn, and became members of Trinity Lutheran Church. Edwin became very involved in both churches while they were members. He served on the Rural School Board for District #26, and the Dairy Board of the National Farmers Organization. Edwin was also a member of the American Legion Post #330 of Johnson, where he was recently honored as being a 50 year member.

Besides his farming, Edwin was employed at the Triangle Pacific Industries in Auburn for 18 years before retiring in 1982. He also did upholstering after the move in to town until he reached the age of 80 years. Edwin and Elsa enjoyed going to dances, they even learned to square dance after retirement and enjoyed doing so for over 10 years until Edwin?s knee wouldn?t allow it anymore. He would have liked to play the accordion or fiddle, but taught himself to play the harmonica and mouth harp instead. Edwin also enjoyed playing cards and was an avid reader, he could even still speak German, read German, and translate it at age 90. Edwin had an engineering mind and was great at building just about anything.

On Sunday, July 24, 2011 Edwin passed away at his home after reaching the age of 90 years, 9 months, and 21 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter-in-law Gloria Michel, and granddaughter Melissa Michel.

Survivors include his wife Elsa of Auburn; sons and daughters-in-law Norman and Helen of Sidney, IA, Laverne and Mary of Johnson, Maynard and Joannie of Lincoln, Kenneth of Lincoln; daughter and son-in-law Carolyn and Mel Bowman of Lincoln; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sisters Leona Lange of Omaha, and Hilda Eitzmann of Lincoln; brother-in-law Lenard and wife Luella Eitzmann of Byron, NE; other relatives and many friends.