Bob Mickelson's Obituary
ROBERT D. MICKELSON’S OBITUARY May 11, 1936 – September 21, 2009
After a long and adventurous life, Robert (Bob) D. Mickelson, 73, of Running Springs, CA (formerly of Orange, CA) died Monday September 21, 2009. He was born May 11, 1936 in Pelican Rapids, MN to Arthur and Faye Mickelson. An accident took his father’s life in 1939.. He grew up in ND in Casselton and Wheatland, and spent his later adolescence with his Uncle Albert Johnson and Aunt Mickey Mickelson Johnson and cousin Lois Johnson Coon.
He graduated from Wheatland High School in 1954 and attended Concordia University and Moorhead State University , graduating in 1959..
Bob and Janice (Jan) Hansen were married June 16, 1957. Brian was born in 1958 and LeAnn in 1960. They moved to California in 1961 where Bob worked for the City of Anaheim in the Planning Department. The “over-the-top” celebrations of Halloween at city hall gave Bob plenty of opportunity to design costumes and haunted mazes which attracted long lines of observers to downtown Anaheim. The only California born member of the family is Lowell who came along in 1962. Bob was able to take his children to Disneyland during the Christmas Season to see the Annual Holiday Parade.
One of Bob’s biggest adventures involved volunteering to do mission work in Peru, South America with Wycliffe Bible Translators. The family lived in Yarinacocha, Peru, from 1968 – 1970. Upon returning to the states, he worked at the City of Orange in the Planning Department, and for some private firms. In 1975 he started his own Planning Consulting business with Jan at his side as his office manager.
He and Jan moved to Running Springs in 2001, and this was his last place of residence. He enjoyed skiing with his family and teaching skiing to students at Snow Valley Ski Resort for 25 years. He earned his first level PSIA certification, and valued his title of “Mr. Instructor” by the students he taught.
Bob survived prostate cancer in 2003, and went on to enjoy good health until 2007 when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He did his best to fight it and in the end was hospitalized with and succumbed to pneumonia, surrounded by his family and friends.
In addition to his wife and three children, he is survived by his mother, one brother, one sister, and five grandchildren, Kali, Evan, Samuel, Alexander, and Noah.
His Inurnment will be in Wheatland Cemetery, Wheatland, ND.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the following:
Wycliffe Bible Translators, Orlando, FL, or
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, or
The American Cancer Society.
There will be two services of the Celebration of Bob’s life:
The first will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 3:00 PM at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church located at 27415 School Road, Crest Park, CA
909-337-1412
A second service on Friday October 2, 2009 at 5:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St. Orange, CA
714-637-1390
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