Herman Michael Sell

He was born in Fredonia, Kansas, on Thanksgiving on Nov. 28, 1940, to Herman and Norma Jean Sell. He was raised by his grandmother, Silva, and his grandfather, Ora Sell, who was an indelible influence on the man Mike would grow up to be. A young Mike learned from his grandfather the value of working hard and living life with a positive outlook. That glass-half-full mentality was a defining characteristic of Mike’s life.

He met Barbara Ann Knies on a blind date at the age of 20 and after a whirlwind long-distance courtship that lasted only two months, the two eloped on July 6, 1961. For nearly 64 years the two traversed the many ups and occasional downs of life as they raised three daughters, ran a weekly newspaper business together, and relished retirement years filled with traveling, new hobbies and cherished time with their children, sons-in-laws and five grandchildren.

Mike was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, serving from 1959 to 1968 primarily as a hospital corpsman. His most impactful Navy years came during a three-year assignment in Cairo, Egypt. It was here, living under Egypt’s authoritarian regime in the 1960s, where Mike developed a deeper appreciation for the privilege of living in a free democracy. The experience planted seeds for his future career in journalism.

He began that career in 1971, following his graduation from the famed University of Missouri School of Journalism. He and Barbara became owners and publishers of the Monroe City News, a weekly newspaper in Monroe City, Missouri. They spent the next 18 years embracing the truth that journalism not only supports a democracy, but also can serve as the lifeblood of a community. As co-publisher and editor, Mike led the close-knit News staff in creating award-winning stories and photography for everything from hard news coverage to local sports reporting to the lifestyle news that plays a crucial role in binding a small town together. Throughout the years, he served in various leadership roles of the Northeast Missouri Press Association and Central Missouri Press Association, including multiple terms as president. Long after he sold the Monroe City News and later retired as the advertising director of the Missouri Press Association, a position he held for 11 years, Mike continued to be passionate about the importance of newspapers.

Creativity was a gift Mike explored through many avenues. His daughters recall with fondness childhood “movie nights” when their dad set up his slide projector and tacked a sheet to the wall as a makeshift screen. They were fascinated by the slide images he had captured of their young mother in Cairo riding a camel and climbing the great pyramids, along with the many other photos he had taken during his time as a photojournalism student. He had an innate ability to tell a story through a single moment in time captured through his camera lens. His photography work for special photo sections of the Monroe City News earned him numerous press association awards. In retirement, he turned his creative efforts toward painting, teaching himself techniques by watching Bob Ross tutorials. He embodied the life lesson of “you’re never too old to learn something new,” inspiring all who saw his finished artwork.

Mike had as many interests as he had talents. He was a collector of all things, from music to stamps. Woodworking and cooking were lifelong passions, as was his love for his alma mater. He and Barbara were season football ticket holders for 37 years and he created a family legacy of bleeding black and gold, with three daughters, one son-in-law and four granddaughters following in his footsteps to attend the University of Missouri.

Above all, he will be remembered as a loving and supportive husband, dad and grandpi to his family and as a positive life force by everyone who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, who died in 2025 one week before their 64th wedding anniversary. He is survived by daughters Jennifer (Robert) Plourde of Columbia, Missouri; Holly (Roger) Higginbotham of Edmond, Oklahoma; and Lori (Steve) Krebs of Monument, Colorado; grandchildren (Meghan Sell, Rachael Plourde, Katelyn Abernathy, Hannah Beerup, Emily Higginbotham); and great-grandchildren (Riley Hughes, Lewis Krapfl). He is also survived by his beloved aunt, Gwendolyn Gertjejansen of Chico, California, who throughout his life was more like a sister to him than an aunt. Mike was able to travel with his daughters one last time to California a few months before his death to visit the 92-year-old Gwen, and the touching reunion spoke to the deep love and connection the two shared.

The family will hold a private service. Memorials can be made to Meals on Wheels of Columbia, an organization Mike and Barbara championed, volunteering weekly in their retirement years to deliver meals to homebound seniors and those with disabilities. Donations may be mailed to Meals on Wheels, 800 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65201.