Obit: Micke, William G. "Bill" (1933 – 2016)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Micke, Turenne, Nolt, Kowalski, Plecity, Crowley, Baker, Girard, Ryba, Stroinski, McDermott

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 07 Dec 2016

Micke, William G. "Bill" (10 OCT 1933 – 5 DEC 2016)

William G. "Bill" Micke, age 83, of Stanley, Wisconsin, passed away at home on Monday, December 5, 2016. Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard – St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016. Fr. Janusz Kowalski will officiate and burial will follow in St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be" Andrew Micke, Jennifer Micke, Ryan Micke, Jim Micke, Greg Turenne and Leroy Nolt. Visitation will be at Thorp Funeral Home in Thorp on Thursday, December 8, 2016, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. rosary service. Visitation will also be held in the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

William Gordon Micke was born on October 10, 1933, on the home farm, in the township of Worden (Clark Co., Wis.), to William Sr. and Florence E. (Plecity) Micke. He was raised on the family farm and attended the Busy Bee Country School until 8th grade. He loved to tell stories about walking to school, hitching rides on the milk sleigh, and his first grade school teacher running away with the milkman. He graduated from Thorp High School in 1952 and later joined the Wisconsin National Guard, which was the source of many more stories.

On August 25, 1955 he was united in marriage to Rose Marie Crowley at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen, Wisconsin. Bill and Rose worked side by side with his father for many years and eventually they took over the family farm. They were blessed with two sons, who joined him on the farm, and they were later able to purchase five more surrounding farms. The original farm has been in the family for 118 years, with Bill's grandchildren making it a 5th generation farm.

Bill was a member of St. Bernard – St. Hedwig Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters, he was on the Board of Directors for Tri-State Breeders, and was on the loan committee for the Northwestern Bank in Thorp.

Bill had many interests, including: raising turkeys and pigs, raising & selling bulls, and keeping draft horses on the farm. He truly enjoyed buying and selling livestock, which he started doing at 15 years old, and was a regular at all local sale barns. Bill also pulled horses and ponies for many years. Bill and Rose made many trips out west to visit friends, attend cowboy poetry performances, and visit auction barns along the way. He will always be remembered for his willingness to offer advice learned from experience and for treating everyone fairly.

He is survived by his wife, Rose M. Micke of Stanley; two sons, Dean Micke (Natalie Baker) of Stanley, Allen (Lisa) Micke of Thorp; four grandchildren: Jessica Ryba (Lance Girard) of Chippewa Falls, WI, Andrew (Melissa) Micke, Jennifer Micke and Ryan Micke, all of Thorp, WI; two great-grandchildren: Aiden and Addison of Chippewa Falls, WI; two sisters: Joanne (Ray) Stroinski of Thorp, WI, Carol McDermott of Henderson, Nevada; one brother, Gerald Micke of Stanley; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Armon Micke, two sister-in-law, Barbara Micke and Jan Micke.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.