John Alvin Michel Sr.

was born October 6, 1935 to Antone & Gertrude (Martin) Michel in Alton, CA. John passed away suddenly on March 20,2011. When John was very young his father passed away and his mother married Dick Zwick. The family, including brother Rich and sister Phyllis, moved to a dairy on Coffee Creek Road in Ferndale, CA. Their brother Dirk was born while the family lived there. John eventually moved to live with Gertrude's bother and sister-in-law, Tony and Marguerite Martin, who lived on Kelly Lane in Ferndale. While there, Tony & Marguerite became second parents to John and their son Fred was like another brother. John worked on their dairy from that young age through his high school years until he met and married the love of his life Charlotte Hackett. Family and friends remember the story of the newly married couple escaping after the wedding ceremony thru the fields of Ferndale, opening and closing fences as they drove from one pasture to the next. John and Charlotte were blessed with four children: John, Victor, Thomas and Tony and John worked hard to support his family. From selling life insurance to working for 13 years at both The Palace and Pacific Lumber (there for a total of 37 years) John was not afraid to take on whatever task was necessary to provide for his family. To say that John was a hard worker is an understatement - years of working on dairies and years of driving forklift took a toll on John's body which began to show signs of wear and tear in the recent years. John was a member of the Redwood Golf & Country Club, Swiss Club, Native Sons, and was a retired Volunteer of the Ferndale Fire Department John was preceded in death by his father Antone Michel, mother Gertrude (Martin) Michel Zwick Smith, brothers Rich Michel and Dirk Zwick. John is survived by his stepªfather Van Smith, Uncle Tony & Aunt Marguerite Martin, wife Charlotte Michel, sister Phyllis Perkins, sister-in-law Rose Michel and his children John Jr. and partner Gary Salcedo of Coos Bay, OR; Victor and Colleen of Bend, OR; Tom & Cindy of Ferndale, CA; and Tony of Ferndale, CA; and grandchildren Brandon & Elvira, Jennifer, Katie, Travis, Trevor, Trinity & AJ, Sheyne & Mellissa, Katrina & Shayne, Liberty and Tyler & Kelsey. John is also survived by numerous other family members in Humboldt County as well as family members in Switzerland who he loved to visit. Thank you to the responding volunteers of the Ferndale Fire Department as you responded to our call of need. John will be missed by family and many friends including those he played cards with and those he welcomed into his home for many of his bountiful feasts that he so willingly shared with others. His definition of family is one that welcomed all and has been a great example for those that have been blessed to have known him. Rosary will be held at Humboldt Cremation and Funeral Service (Citizen's Mortuary), 470 Ocean Avenue in Ferndale on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 7 p.m. with the Funeral Mass at Church of the Assumption, 546 Berding Street in Ferndale on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 11 a.m. Private interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ferndale with casket bearers being Sheyne DeMello, Travis Michel, Trevor Michel, Tyler Michel, AJ Evenson and Allen Michel. Honorary bearers are Fred Martin, Leo Angelini, Rich Losa, Bill Mickelson and Elvin Luis. Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click obits.