Obituary: Stanley Michaelson

As received from the Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes:

Stanley R Michaelson, PE, age 84, passed away at his Tapiola home surrounded by family following a short illness. Stan was born on May 21, 1937, in a farmhouse bedroom in Baraga. Son of Caroline “Carrie” Maki and Rupert Michaelson, he grew up on the Michaelson homestead in Elo as the first-born child of a blacksmith, farmer, and inventor.

Stan attended Doelle Agricultural School in Tapiola, where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Ida “Edie” Hyypio. They married in 1957, and Stan attended Michigan Tech University in Houghton to achieve his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1959.

After living in downstate Michigan for a short time, they returned to Tapiola and purchased the 80-acre farm they still call home. Stan was proud to be a Professional Engineer for Yalmer Mattila Contracting, where he supervised many construction projects throughout the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin before retiring in 1999.

Stan “CapStan” was an avid fisherman and boater. With his 1954 Chris-Craft, the “Maria Ann” he and his “Tapiola Navy” enjoyed fishing Lake Superior, particularly Isle Royale, the Huron Islands, and the Apostle Islands. He was a successful deer hunter who shared his love of hunting and comradery with his sons and his Hatala Camp buddies. And when retirement afforded him the time, he expanded his hobbies to include woodworking, through the creation of his own sawmill and woodshop.

Stan was a man of faith who served many years as a reader, assistant minister, and in various positions on the church council at Our Savior’s Lutheran of Elo and Mission United Lutheran Church of Pelkie. He also served as a volunteer Fire Fighter and First Responder with the Otter Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Above all though, Stan was most proud of his role as husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, and uncle. He was proud to the point of bursting buttons when he could stand in a circle, holding hands, and share a Sunday blessing at a family meal.

Stan is preceded in death by his parents Rupert and Caroline, brother Bruce and sister Susan.

Stan is survived by his wife Ida (Hyypio), sons Jim (Michele), Mark (Karen), Nate (Cheryl), Neil, and Robert (Jennifer); daughters Maria (Mark) Spencer, and Kristine Michaelson; grandchildren Joel (Naomi), Samantha, Grayson, Grant, Becky (Cale), Billy (Lexie), Andy, Liz (Jethro), Joe, Katy, Rochelle, Rikki, Kyle, Phillip, David, Nicklas, Jack and Emily; great-grandchildren Avery, Jared, Ellie, Hailee, and Jenny; cousins, nieces and nephews; and many neighbors and friends.

Stan’s family would like to extend thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff of the BCMH Home Care, Bayside Village and UP Health Marquette.

The funeral is being arranged through Memorial Chapel & Plowe. Visitation is at 11 am, Friday, November 12, 2021, at Mission United Lutheran Church, Baraga, followed by the funeral service at 1 pm. Lunch will follow the funeral service, with the burial will be in the Elo Cemetery.

To view Stan’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.