Dear Rotarians,
On January 19, 2020 we lost our long time Rotarian, friend and Past District Governor William (Bill) Mickelberry, We received the following message from his family for us to share with our members.
Jessica Pankrats, President of the Rotary Club of Greater Albany has provided the update on the memorial services that is listed at the end of this email.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Let’s all take a moment to honor the passing of such a fine Rotarian.
– DG Rick Olson
Dear Family & Friends
I wanted to inform everyone that Dr. William C. Mickelberry, Captain United States Navy (retired) passed away this morning at home, January 19, 2020. Dad was a devoted husband to my mother for 61 years (Fraternity President marries Sorority President) and devoted father to myself, Thomas, Patrick and Marcella.
My father had a very wide reach with his work as a scientist, work with the International Food Technologist organization and Hall of Fame member with IFT and head of Research and Development with Oregon Freeze Dry, an educator as a University professor from Purdue to Clemson to Oregon State University. From his work locally and nationally with the International Rotary Foundation, whether locally at the Annual Crab Fest here in Albany or internationally building affordable housing for those in need in Central and South America. Plus, let’s not forget his service to the United States Navy where he was inducted as a ensign in 1955 into the Navy he so loved and retired as a Naval Captain. He told me this week of his service to the Navy, “I may not have been able to build things, but I sure could blow the crap out of them!” He was an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Officer (makes sense now!), Deep Sea Diver, and Special Weapons Disposal Expert.
Our family would like to thanks all those who touched, helped and guided my father’s life, my mothers and us in the past and those who will support us all as we go through this next phase without Dad.
Funeral arrangements with be with Assum-Defour here in Albany this upcoming week, possibly either Wednesday Thursday or Friday. I have a meeting tomorrow morning with the funeral home. Burial will be at Twin Oaks next to Marcella with full military honors.
I have tried and gotten hold of many immediate family members this morning, however because of Dads reach and all he knew, I wanted to send out this email so all were aware.
Sincerely
From our family
Nancy Mickelberry
David
Thomas
Patrick
Information on the Memorial Service – From Jessica
Memorial services for Dr. William C. Mickelberry will be held Friday, January 24, 2020, 10:30 a.m. at Neighborhood Church at 2815 Pine Street SE, Albany Oregon 97322. Burial will follow at Twin Oaks Memorial Gardens, 34275 Riverside Dr, Albany, Oregon, 97321 with military honors.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, January 23 from 2- 5 p.m. at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home 805 SW Ellsworth St, Albany, Oregon 97321.
Bill was an incredible human being and certainly lived his life to the full while he was here. May we all be so fortunate.
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