Rev. David John Michael

Michael, Rev. David John MADISON-Rev. David John Michael, age 73, passed away from cancer on Sunday, June 7, 2015, at Agrace HospiceCare. A husband, father, pastor and community leader, Dave gave hope and encouragement to people he served across a lifetime in Iowa and Wisconsin. He was the senior pastor at Lake Edge United Church of Christ in Madison for 17 years before retiring at the end of 2005. Dave was born Nov. 23, 1941, in Terra Haute, Ind., the son of John and Lena (Baumgartner) Michael. His father was also a pastor and his mother was a teacher. He grew up primarily in Bremen, Ind., then attended Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis, graduating in 1963. That began a life-long connection to Lakeland, where he served on the Board of Trustees for nearly 40 years. Dave attended Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, graduating in 1966. He married Linda Fledderjohann in 1965. They marked their 50th wedding anniversary on June 6. Dave's first call to ministry was as pastor at Zion UCC in Burlington, Iowa, where he served as pastor for nine years. Then he served as pastor at First Congregational UCC in Rhinelander for 13 years. In 1988, he moved to Madison to become senior pastor at Lake Edge UCC. Throughout much of his career, he served on the denominational committee that oversees the preparation and oversight of ministers. He also was on the national UCC Board for World Ministries. While he was involved in many community activities as a pastor, after his retirement he focused much of his attention on The Road Home Dane County, serving on the board of directors and helping lead a capital campaign to raise money for housing for people who were homeless. While both Dave and Linda were active in the community – he as a pastor, she as an elementary school teacher – they also raised three children – Sara, who is an assistant professor at Queens College in New York City; Tim, who works at an Acura car dealership in Brookfield; and Johanna, who is a school psychologist in southwestern Wisconsin. He was so proud of the accomplishments of these three and so delighted by his seven grandchildren. Dave is survived by his mother, Lena, who is 104 and lives in Vista, Calif.; his sister, Loie, of Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.; his wife, Linda; his children Sara (David Luna) and their son Jack; Tim (Jessica) and their children Brian, Alec, Kim and Matthew; and Johanna (Andrew Chenous) and their children Elena and Owen. There will be a visitation at Gunderson East Funeral Home, 5203 Monona Drive, on Monday, June 8, 2015, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. The memorial service will be on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 11 a.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church, 5202 Cottage Grove Rd., where Dave and Linda have been participants the last few years. Rev. Jeff Vanden Heuvel, the pastor there, will preside at the service, which will be live streamed at www.messiahchurch.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one of these three places that were important to Dave: Lakeland College (designated for student scholarships), P.O. Box 359, Sheboygan Wis. 53082-0359; The Road Home Dane County, 128 E. Olin Avenue, Suite 202 Madison, Wis. 53713; or the United Church of Christ Global Ministries, Controller, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608)221-5420