Grace Mickelson

1912 - 2012

Mickelson, Grace M.

Grace M. Mickelson, 99, Sister Bay, Wis. passsed away at Scandia Village on July 13, 2012. Grace was born October 4, 1912 to John and Elsie Mickelson in Sister Bay, Wis. Preceding her in death were brothers and sisters; Ethel and George ( Chuck ) Swetlick, Evert and Tillie Mickelson, Clifford and Elaine Mickelson and Mae and Ralph Charney.

Survivors include many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews, which Grace knew all their names, birthdates and ages.

She grew up East of Sister Bay on the home farm on county ZZ and went to school at Appleport. After graduating, she kept walking to school in the morning to light the wood and coal stoves to warm the school before it started.

Grace left Door County to work in Chicago and spent 10 years as a house keeper and nanny. She kept in contact with her employers and their children by writing letters, Christmas cards and talking to them on the phone.

When she returned to her home farm in Sister Bay, she started to cook and work for Pisha's Restaurant, The Country House Assisted Living, and Ephraim Shores Restaurant. Ephraim Shores is where she spent the last 25 years of work. She was an excellent baker and cook. Grace won THE WISCONSIN CHERRY PIE BAKING CONTEST while working at Ephraim Shores and was highlighted on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal holding her cherry pie.

Besides work, Grace always had a large garden. Her nephew said he thought she only grew weeds because it seemed every time he would visit he got to pull weeds. She enjoyed gardening right up to the time she moved to Scandia Village.

Grace always cut and raked her own lawn with a push mower. All this exercise kept her in shape to walk to work, shopping or where ever she needed to go as she never drove a car.

Grace loved to baby-sit and spent time with her nieces and nephews and neighbor kids. Whenever you talked to Grace you had to watch out because she would always come out with a one line joke when you least expected it. Whether you were a friend, family, or care giver working with her she would always surprise you with her quick wit. Grace never complained about anything, life just continued on.

Funeral Services will be held at Sister Bay Moravian Church on Friday, July 20, 2012 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of Service on Friday.

Online condolences may be offered at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Sister Bay Moravian Church or Scandia Village.