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As received from the Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes:
Donald Richard Michaelson, age 80, of Elo, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Canal View in Hancock, Michigan. Don was born on January 16, 1940, in Elo, to the late John M. and Saimi J. (Lundy) Michaelson. Don was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Elaine (Laszewski) Michaelson, brother Arthur Michaelson and sister Ann (Gerald) Kotila.
Don graduated from the John A. Doelle School with the class of 1958.
He met his wife, Elaine Laszewski, in Missouri, and the two were married November 2, 1968. They raised two children, Sheila (David) Ryan of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and Michael (Denise) Michaelson of Elo.
Donald owned and operated M & M Sanitation Engineers in Houghton, Michigan, with his brothers William and George until 1989.
Don was a very active member of the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses wherever he lived including New York, Missouri, Wisconsin and Michigan. He loved spending time outdoors, playing basketball and pinochle with family and friends. Most of all, Don will be remembered for his love for people and his zeal for God’s Word and sharing its hope with everyone he met.
Surviving are his children, Sheila (David) Ryan of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and Michael (Denise) Michaelson of Elo, grandchildren, Jake (Nadine) Ryan of Oconto, Wisconsin, Madelyn (Jared) Erdman of Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, and Walter Michaelson of Calumet, brothers William (Sonya) Michaelson of Elo, Albert (Louise) Michaelson of Mission Viejo, California, Robert (Virginia) Michaelson of Arnheim, George (Caroline) Michaelson of College Station, Texas, James (Andrea) Michaelson of Fountain, Colorado, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff at Canal View for their kindness and excellent care of Donald and his wife, Elaine, over the past five years and for creating such a loving environment with an impeccably high standard of care delivered with true compassion and warmth.
The family is immensely grateful and forever indebted to David and Carla Palosaari and Robert and Sue Mikesch for their unwavering love and support of the family through the most difficult of times.
We are consoled knowing that soon we will realize the Bible’s hope where “no resident will say: ‘I am sick’”. (Isaiah 33:24) Please join us for a virtual memorial service to be officiated by David Palosaari, close friend and minister, via Zoom, on Saturday, January 9, 2021, 2:00 EST. Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Service, Hancock, Michigan, is assisting the family, https://www.memorialchapel.net.
Please feel free to forward and/or share the Zoom meeting link with any you feel would like to attend virtually.
Please join us virtually via Zoom
1:00 PM (CST) Saturday, January 9, 2021
