Lorraine M. Michels

Lorraine M. Michels, age 85, loving wife and mother of seven, died Friday, May 25, 2007, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. She was born Feb. 8, 1922, in Courderay, Wis., to Hugh and Christena (nee Kruhalec) Carey and was raised on a farm in the Town of Seymour. Lorraine left home at an early age to attend St. Patrick High School in Eau Claire, graduating in 1941. She met the love of her life at Fournier's Ballroom and married Charles W. Michels on Aug. 13, 1941, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church. Survivors include her husband, Charles W. Michels of Eau Claire; six children: Bill (Ruth) Michels of Eau Claire, Catherine (Douglas) Grant of Mukwonago, Wis., Edward T. (Jeanne) Michels of Eau Claire, Sue (David) Manor of Foster, Wis., John (Sharon) Michels of Eau Claire, and Mary (Mark) Heintz of Bruce; 10 grandchildren, Sherry, Gary, Tony, Greg, Lynn, Christopher, Becky, Daniel, Sara and Thomas; nine great-grandchildren; a son-in-law, Jerry Stelzer of Cadott; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Michels of Milwaukee, and Grace Carey of Eau Claire; and seven nieces and nephews, Connie, Ronny, Kenny, Janice, Jim, Peggy and Cheryl. She is preceded by her parents; a daughter, Patricia Stelzer; a brother, Robert Carey; a sister, Anna Mae Volrath; and three brothers-in-law: Walter Volrath, Leonard Michels and Thomas Michels. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 3220 Monroe Street, Eau Claire. Friends may call at the church, on Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Hospital Pastoral Services or St. Olaf Parish.