Vivian R. Michaelis

MONONA–Vivian R. (Rickman) Michaelis, died peacefully, at home, after a long illness on Sunday, Nov. 30. 2014, with her husband and daughter by her bedside. Vivian was born in Reedsburg on Sept. 14, 1927, to Harold and Pearl (Mittlesteadt) Rickman-Childs. The family moved to Madison when Vivian was 5 years old. She attended Marquette and Emerson grammar schools and graduated from Madison East High School in 1945. During World War II she worked in the production plant at Research Products as a spot welder in the fabrication of aluminum filters for commercial use. After the war, Vivian met and married Don Michaelis and in May of this year they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Vivian was an avid reader and belonged to two book clubs. She also exchanged books with friends, usually reading one to two books per week. Vivian loved to cook, bake, and knit and excelled at all of them. She loved camping and the family spent many happy hours around a campfire at their seasonal site on Big St. Germaine Lake, where she also loved fishing for Walleye. Her children; son, Terry Lee and daughter, Tamra Jo, were very much a part of the joy of camping. When the kids were growing up, Vivian was active in Girl Scouts and the swim team. She also liked to travel, and the family went on many educational summer trips over a span of years to the East and West Coasts. Entertaining was also a favorite, and after a good meal, a good game of six-handed Euchre was the highlight of the evening. Vivian was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, and words cannot express how much she will be missed. Vivian is survived by her husband, Don; daughter, Tamra Welsh; grandchildren, Paul Welsh and Britni Welsh; step-sister, Helen Duncan (Childs); and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Terry Michaelis; brother, Robert Rickman; step-father, Clifford Childs; and step-brothers, Donald and David Childs. A funeral service will be held at ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5700 Pheasant Hill Rd, Monona, at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Home Health United Hospice or St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church. Special thanks to Jack and Kathy Williams for all they do and have done. Also, thank you to the nurses and aides at Home Health United Hospice and Care Wisconsin. Thank you to Dr. Paul Wertsch for going above and beyond in caring for Vivian. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420