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Name:	Dennis Clair Michels (Nickname = Maverick)
Spouse:	Deborah Ann Rittenhouse Michels (Nickname = Debbie)
Address
	DECEASED 2006,
Phone Number
Email Address
Personal Website
Class of	1961	Attended from KG through 12
Graduated Here?	Yes
If graduated elsewhere, graduated from:
College Attended:	Bradley University and Purdue University

Birthdate:	December 28, 1942
Date of Death:	May 22, 2006

Current Occupation:	Consulting Engineer, Home Builder (Texas General Contractor), Flight Instructor

Notes:	Dennis was killed in an airplane crash on May 22, 2006 while instructing a student. Steve Meyer submitted this link to the NTSB accident report: http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20060525X00622&ntsbno=DFW06FA136&akey=1> After Purdue Dennis went to Conn for an electronics job, then NY state, then South Carolina and then to Lubbock TX, where he lived for 14 years. Before his death he was still in engineering, also home building & flight instruction. He flew War Birds and taught all over the panhandle of Texas. His obituary from The Lubbock Avalanche-Journam May 26, 2006: Services for Dennis C. Michels will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, May 27, 2006, in St. Paulís-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, with Rev. Dr. Steve Sellers officiating. Dennis C. Michels was born Dec. 28, 1942 in San Diego, California to Dr. Fred E. and Bernice (Hively) Michels. He graduated from Columbia City (Indiana) High School and held a BSEE and MS in Solid State Physics from Purdue University. He served in the USAF as a Radio Specialist from 1963 1967. As a professional engineer, Dennis held engineering positions at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, and at Methodist Hospital, Compliance Services Group, and Carillon Senior Life Care Community in Lubbock, Texas. He also was a registered homebuilder and a certified flight instructor with multiple ratings in multiple types of aircraft. He primarily taught international students at Levelland Aviation and private students through Scot-Flight School of Aviation. He also served as a corporate pilot for Caprock Pipe in Lovington, New Mexico. Mr. Michels was a communicant at St. Paulís-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, serving as Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Lector, and Usher. He flew War Birds, volunteered with the Texas Air Museum in Slaton and was a Colonel in the Commemorative Air Force in Midland, Texas. He was a sustaining member of Central Texas Area Museum in Salado, Texas, and served as the Drum Major for the massed bands at the annual Gathering of the Scottish Clans in Salado for many years. Survivors include his wife, Debbie Michels of Lubbock; his father, Dr. Fred E. Michels of Miles City, Montana; his daughter, Christina Marie Michels of Atlanta, Georgia; and his son, Doran John Michels of Portland, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice Hively Michels and his brother, John James Michels. Memorials may be made to St. Paulís-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, Box 2686, Lubbock, Texas, 79408, and the Texas Air Museum, Box 667, Slaton, Texas 79364. To send online condolences, please visit www.rixfd.com.

Last Updated:	05-30-2011		Alumni ID:	13713

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