LTC Neal Jay Michal Jr.

LTC Neal Jay Michal, Jr. age 69 of Grayling, Michigan
passed away on 25 July, 2010 of cardiomyopathy at home
with family.
He was born in Rensselaer, Indiana on 8 March 1941.
His parents were Neal J. Michal, Sr. and Wilma Dobbins
Michal, both are deceased. He grew up on a farm and graduated
from Rensselaer High School in 1959 and volunteered
for the U.S. Army two weeks later and spent thirty three
years in the military spending time in the U.S. Army and
Army National Guard.
He was retired from active duty in August of 1992 and
retired to Grayling which is the home of his wife JoAnn
Morrison Michal.
He married the love of his life on 18 August 1988 at
Camp Grayling Chapel. He has three sons, one daughter, and
eight grandchildren. All three sons served in the U.S. Army
Infantry and their years of service coupled to his total sixty
nine years of service of which the Colonel was very proud.
His father and seven of his uncles served in WWII. Another
uncle fought in the Korean War. His great-grandfather, Phil
Dobbins fought in the Civil War and was decorated by
President Lincoln at Gettysburg for bravery.
LTC Michal was a Parachute Infantry Officer for his
entire career. He was a graduate of Infantry Officers School
at Fort Benning, Georgia and numerous other military
schools. He was very proud of his military family.
His wife, JoAnn, of Grayling, Neal Jay Michal III (Sandy)
and their two sons of Cummings, GA. His daughter, Debra
Baker (David), and two children, of Rossville, IN. His son,
Mark Michal, and his four children of Monticello, IN. His son,
Justin Michal, of Grayling. His siblings are; Edward (Barb)
Michal of Rensselaer, sister Kathy Erwin (Paul) of Granger
and brother Chip Erwin of Syracuse all of Indiana. Neal
became very involved in Grayling activities and served seventeen
years on six different county and township boards.
He was most proud of his time spent on the County
Commission on Aging. He was one of the founders of the
local snowmobile club and had been the Chairman of the
Crawford County Republican Party and Grayling Promise
Keepers. He was a member of fifteen different military
organizations, and a lifetime member of the NRA. He loved
the cabin, his boat, Indy racing, NHRA, a good cigar and a
Bloody Mary.
One of his favorite sayings was "It's not important about
what people say about us, it's what we know inside that
counts". His remains were cremated and his ashes scattered
per his desires.
A celebration will be held on the 7th day of August at
Camp Grayling Officer's Club. Meet promptly at 7 p.m. to
proceed to Division Hill for full military honors service.
RSVP is required. Call (989) 348-9033 or email: oclub@verizon.
net Identification is require to enter Camp Grayling.