Dr. Kenneth E. Michel

Dr. Kenneth E. Michel, 87, of Lakeland, Fla., formerly of Grove City, passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Lakeland Regional Health Center.

Dr. Michel was born May 22, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., to Irvin and Marcella Carlson Michel. He married Sylvia Yard on July 31, 1999; she survives at home.

He retired in 1992 from Slippery Rock University where he was a professor of genetics. Previously, he served as the chairman of the biology department where he started his career at SRU in 1966.

He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of the Arts at Northern Illinois University and his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Michel has written numerous scientific research papers for various journals throughout his career.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.

Dr. Michel was a longtime member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City. He was a long-time resident of Grove City, moving to Grove City in 1969. He enjoyed gardening, golf, traveling and dancing.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his daughter, Janet Eklund Dickson, and her husband, Thomas, of Andover, N.H., his son, the Rev. David Michel, and his wife, Karen, of State College; and three stepchildren, Dr. James Vogus and his wife, Laurie, of Reading, Calif., Jeffrey Vogus and his wife, Michelle, of Mount Union, and Jacqueline Black and her husband, Dave, of Beaver Falls.

He is also survived by his grandson, Michael Arthur Eklund of Belmont, N.H.; his granddaughter, Shambra L. Hamilton, and her husband, Eric, of Genesee, Pa.; six stepgrandsons, Tanner and David Black, Nicholas Marcinko, Jason, Christopher and Michael Triolo; five stepgranddaughters, Lindsay Allen, Ashley Sorensen, Chelsea Vogus, Cassidy Marcinko and Katie Simcik; two great-granddaughters, Aislinn Hamilton and Avery Elklund; his great-grandson, Wyatt Hamilton; his brother, John “Jack” Michel of Kenosha, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.

His parents; his brother, Robert Michel; and his former wife, Mary Jo Michel Devereaux, preceded him in death.

MICHEL — A memorial and committal service with military honors for Dr. Kenneth E. Michel, who died Tuesday, May 1, 2018, will be at 11 a.m. June 13 at the Barkeyville Cemetery, Barkeyville, Pa.Arrangements by the Cunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City.