Frank Joseph Michels

Frank J Michels, (he liked to be called Mike) passed away August 21, 2012 at 4pm, he went peacefully in his sleep.  Mike was born in Oregon City, Oregon at Sellwood Hospital on April 12, 1927 to Frank Barnard Michels and Genevieve Emma McGarrity.  Growing up in Portland he went to Catholic Grade School and Benson and Franklin High School.  Mike joined the United States Navy when he was 17 years old, and he was Honorably Discharged August 8, 1946. He achieved the Rank of Fireman 1st Class V-6. He met his wife, Frances B Michels of 64 years in 1946 at the Palais Royale Dance Hall in Portland, Oregon.  He married soon after meeting Frances.  He was always seeking out a way to work in Aviation.  He started at Flightcraft in Oregon as an Aircraft Mechanic, where he gained experience which led him to test, and successfully get an Airframe and Powerplant License.  Soon after that he went to work for Boeing in Seattle as an Aircraft Mechanic.  He then worked for Pacific Northern Airlines which later became Western Airlines.  After working for Western Airlines for 15 years, he received a position as an Aircraft Mechanic at Alaska Airlines.  During this time Mike and Frances had 3 children:  Kimetha Michels, Pamela Michels and Greg Michels.  They resided in West Seattle by Alki Beach.  His love for airplanes and flying certainly showed, as he would help out his friends working on their aircraft, and flying whenever he could. He retired from Alaska Airlines at the age 63.  While retired Mike and Frances toured around in their motor home enjoying and visiting friends and family.  Mike also took care of the family household and rental property they owned.  He was always known as the hardest working guy you would ever meet. His hobbies included Airplanes, Gold Mining, Treasure Hunting, Ham Radio, Space Exploration, and he was quite a UFO buff too.  Mike was aspiring to get his Private Pilots License at age 82.  He fell short of his solo because of illness.  He liked the writings and teachings of Albert Einstein and Stephan Hawking.  He also experimented with a  1974 Chevrolet truck that got 9 miles to the gallon; he built and installed a fuel vaporization system that increased the trucks mileage to 19 miles to the gallon. He was a Visionary, Scientist, and a Teacher and just an all-round good guy. Mike is survived by Wife of 64 years, Frances B. Michels; Daughters, Kimetha  and  Pamela Michels ; his son Gregory Michels and his sister, Frankie Michels.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Genevieve Michels. There will be a Graveside Service on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 2:00pm at Forest Lawn Cemetery 6701 30th Ave. SW Seattle, Washington. He will live in our hearts forever and will not be forgotten, and as Mike used to say “Let’s go have a Milkshake, it will make you feel better”.