Micheline "Mickie" Ohlenforst

Micheline “Mickie” Ohlenforst, age 91, passed away after a beautiful life on Thursday January 7, 2021. She was born to Gabriel and Jeanne Courtat in Paris, France on June 27, 1929. She was an only child and helped her parents by working in their small beer brewery during World War II. It was there in Paris where she met the love of her life, Aloysius “Dutch” Ohlenforst, who was an American soldier. She married her love, whom she affectionally called “Olie”, on October 21, 1946 and moved to Rayne “Roberts Cove” Louisiana to start their family. After living their first married years rice farming in Louisiana, they moved back to Europe, when Olie took a position with Metropolitan Life Insurance in the European offices. They spent 2 ½ years in Frankfurt, Germany, where their daughter Michelle was born, and then 1 ½ years in Paris, France. After Europe, Olie took a management position with MetLife in El Paso, TX, where they raised their 4 children. After retiring, they settled their last twenty years together in San Antonio, TX. Mickie and Olie were just shy of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary before her beloved husband passed away on March 11, 1996. After Dutch’s death she found joy in spending time with her children and grandchildren, volunteering her time at her church, and rekindling her favorite pastime of dancing. While Mickie loved her French roots, she was proud to have become an American citizen on May 21, 1951.

Mickie was an incredibly talented homemaker who was known for her delicious European cooking and her artistic talents including painting, sewing, decorating, and dancing. She was passionate about food, wine, being immaculately dressed, and loving on her grandchildren. While living in El Paso, she was a professional model for Gilbert’s Fashions and modeled weekly at various events. As her children started to grow, she utilized her love for beauty and fashion to become an extraordinarily successful Avon Lady receiving the highest award possible, the President’s Award each year for over 20 years. While at Franklin Park Assisted Living, Mickie became an active member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Memories in the Making Art Program and in 2016 won a painting contest that was featured as the Alzheimer’s Association Annual Christmas card.

Mickie was devoted to her community and was a volunteer at North Central Baptist Hospital for many years as well as a member of the Alliance Francaise. Mickie was also a parishioner at St. Mark’s the Evangelist Catholic Church where she was a member of the Altar Society and Young at Heart Seniors’ Club.

She is survived by her four children, eleven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren: Dr. Patrick Ohlenforst and wife Cynthia and their children and grandchildren; Dr. Kristen Ohlenforst Gonzalez and husband Manny Gonzalez (Quint and Olivia), Dr. Lauren Ohlenforst Carney and husband Kevin Carney (Owen and Cooper), Dr. Megan Ohlenforst Russell and husband Dr. James Russell (John, Connor, and Kate), Marie Claire Ohlenforst Tirres and husband Jimmy Tirres and their children and grandchildren; James Jeremy Tirres, Tiffany Tirres Fernandez and husband Eloy Fernandez (Estella), Tracie Tirres Sandoval and husband Jaime Sandoval (Catalina), Tammie Tirres, Michelle Ohlenforst Graham and husband John Graham and their children; Garrett Graham and wife Calynn Graham, Dillan Graham and Christian Ohlenforst and wife Pamela and their children; Zachary Ohlenforst and Nicholas Ohlenforst. Micheline sadly lost a son between Patrick and Marie Claire who was stillborn due to Mickie contracting German measles.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers from Franklin Park Assisted Living for the care and compassion they showed Micheline over the last eight years, and would like to especially thank Victoria and April of Heart to Heart Hospice for the love and gentle care they gave Micheline in her last days. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association can be made in her name.

The family will gather for private services at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, following which Micheline will be laid to rest with her husband at Holy Cross Cemetery. Those who would like to view a livestream of these services and sign her online guestbook may do so at www.PorterLoring.com under her obituary page beginning at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

For those who would like to view the livestream of these the Rosary, please see the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/StMarkEvangelistSA/

https://youtu.be/zOGe1ng7OT0

Services were livestreamed and can be viewed below:

In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association.