John F. Michel was born February 1, 1921, in Emporium, PA to Margaret and John Michel. John passed from this life Saturday, December 2, 2006, at the Veterans' Center at Lawton, OK, at the age of eighty-five. John was the oldest of ten children. He grew up and attended school in St. Mary’s, PA. John entered the Army Air Corps in 1941. He served in thirty missions as a tail gunner on a B-17 in the European Theater. His plane crew was called Lords Angels. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Flight Wings and Marksman Pistol. He spent four years serving his country, receiving his honorable discharge in 1945.

John met and married his first wife Essie Husky in April, 1945, in Ryan, Oklahoma. They moved to St. Marys, PA, where they had their family of eight boys and two girls. In 1968, they moved back to Waurika, Oklahoma, where he was a painter. They were divorced in 1971, and she passed away in 1997. John met Frances White and they were married in 1988. The couple made their home in Waurika. Frances had four children so that made them a total of fourteen children. John was a member of AA for thirty-eight years and the American Legion for sixty years.

Survivors include: his wife Frances of the home of Waurika; his children - John Michel and his wife Betsy, of DeSoto, TX, Lois Collins of Waurika, OK, Tom Michel and his wife Jamie, of Comanche, OK, Mary and her husband Ted Burden of Wilson, OK, Tim Michel of Ft Worth, TX, Leo Michel and his wife Cindy, of Duncan, OK, James Michel of Tulsa, OK, Bill Michel and his wife Diana, of Comanche, OK, Bobby Michel of Arizona, Donnie Michel of Ft Worth, TX, Curtis White and his wife Peggy, of Kamay, TX, Jack White and his wife Donna, of Gene Autry, OK, Rhonda Hildebrand of Waurika, OK, and Sheila and her husband Larry Elliot of Waurika, OK; two sisters - Martha Morse of Emporia, PA, and Rose and her husband Mike Belso of St Marys, PA; three brothers - Tom Herzing of St Marys, PA, Leo Herzing of Port Allegheny, PA, Bill Herzing of Penfield, PA; and a brother-in-law - Max Parris of St Marys, PA.

John was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.

Funeral services for Mr. Michel wer at 2:00 PM, Friday, December 8, 2006, at the Dudley Funeral Home Chapel in Waurika, Oklahoma with Tom and Leo Michel officiating. The grandons served as pallbearers. Burial was in the Waurika Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chisholm Trail Historical Museum.