Gregory Michels

Gregory T. Michels, 67, of Bellevue, passed away Sunday, December 15, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 19, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellevue. Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery. Visitation for Greg will be held from 3:00 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Hachmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Bellevue, and again Thursday morning From 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Greg was born on February 15, 1946 in Bellevue, Iowa, son of Lorraine (Mueller) and Thomas Michels. He married Gailann Kueter on August 7, 1971, in St. Joseph Catholic Church. Greg enlisted in the United States Air force in 1964 to 1968. During this time he was in Japan for 2 years and South Dakota for the remainder. Greg retired from John Deere Tractor Works in Dubuque after 31 years retiring in May 2001. (a friend once remarked that he was the best machinist @ Deeres). Before he became handicapped, Greg enjoyed hobby farming on the Kueter Family Farm where they lived all their married life, an avid bowler, golfer, gardener, camper, and boater, and in earlier years played softball and road motorcycles. He was a member of the Bellevue golf Course and the Bellevue Saddle Club and served as president. In 1999 Greg was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer and in rare cases Greg developed a rare nerve-apathy disorder, Guillian-Barre, and 2002 had a massive stroke leaving him wheel-chair bound. Greg was a hard worker, very intelligent, especially when it came to history and politics, a very strong democrat, cared for and deeply appreciated his family and friends. Those left in his memory, include his wife of 42 years, Gail(Kueter) of Bellevue, daughter April (John) Trojanowski of Naperville Ill, and son Aaron ( Brittany Farrell) Michels of Bellevue, father, Tom Michels, four sisters, Nancy (Donald) Knockel, St Catherines, Joanne (Jack) Veach, Jeanette (Darel) Felderman, both of Bellevue, Barb (Terry) Jensen of Waterloo; two brothers Jim (Kate) Michels and Jeff (Barb) Michels both of Bellevue; sister-in-law Diane (Tony) Muenster of Bellevue and brother-in-law Roger (Barb) Kueter of Cedar Falls, Ia. And several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine Michels and mother and father-in-law, Arnold and Bernice Kueter. The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice of Dubuque, all Gregs doctors especially Dr. Hunter, his care givers, Shannon Wedeking, Wendy Kilburg and Deanna Michels; and dear friends Gerry Marshall and Jim Eggers for their special care and compassion shown to Greg.Reception:Horizon Hall970 North Riverview StreetBellevue, IA 52031