Dale Richard “Dick” Michael

Dale Richard “Dick” Michael was born on Saturday, April 2,1938 in Kansas City, Kansas. He was the son of Bert and Esther (Brewer) Michael. A near lifelong resident, Dick made his home in Wellsville until his death on Sunday, March 10, 2013, at the age of seventy-four years. At age twelve Dick and his mother moved to a farm north of Wellsville. His father had to stay in Kansas City and work and was only able to come to the farm on weekends. He graduated from Wellsville High School with the class of 1954; attended Pittsburg State University and later graduated from Baker University with a Bachelor of Science in 1962. Dick married Linda Lou Lederer in Miami, Oklahoma. Together they raised three sons, Rodney, Danny and Chad, and now have custody of nine year old grandson Dale. For many years Dick owned his own contracting business, Michael Excavating, digging many basements around the Wellsville area. He also owned an insulation business and insulated many homes around the same area. Dick was a “Jack of all trades”, driving semi-tractors hauling cars, recycling products and working at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant as a heavy equipment operator. Dick knew “NO FEAR” driving stock cars, flying airplanes and whatever was available to do. He gave the Wellsville community much enjoyment and excitement while driving at Lakeside Stadium and most of the time was winning for his team. He was an avid flyer helping his friends with their airplanes and flying with them. Sometimes four or five airplanes were in the sky at one time. He also flew Young Eagles. Being the excellent mechanic he was, he also taught his skills to his boys and grandson and in later life helped them build a stock car for oldest son Rodney to drive. Dick spent many hours with the grandchildren pulling them behind the boat at Clinton Lake, teaching oldest grandson Kyle to fly and just last winter refurbished a pickup and a tractor in the workshop. The family always vacationed together and put many miles on his pickup and pulling the 5th wheel camper, many times with grandchildren. Dick is preceded in death by youngest son, Chad; parents; brother, Bill; and his high school best friend, Larry Wiggins. He is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Rodney, and Danny and his fiancé Dawn of Wellsville; seven grandchildren, Niki, Jamie, Megan, Kyle, Cassidy, Katelyn and Dale; one great grandson, Chase; sister, Donna Shernuk of Overland Park; and many other family members as well as his many, many friends in his family of “airplane pilots”. Dick will be greatly missed by his family, friends, his bird, Joe; and tea-cup poodle, Angel. SERVICES: Graveside Inurnment Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Sutton Cemetery, Douglas County, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to VAA Chapter 16 Airplane Hanger Fund c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. An online Guest Book is available at www.dengelmortuary.com.