Individual Details

John Gustaf Mickels became a Citizen of the U. S. A. in 1921. Documents received from Immigration and Naturalization Service show he claimed he left Bremen, Germany June 1881 and arrived in New York, NY, 3 July 1881.

Worked as a railroad car repairer in Oelwein, Iowa railroad yard. Also farmed.

Obituary provided by Oelwein Area Genealogical Society: John Gustaf Mickels died at his home at 4 1/2 Street, SW in Oelwein on Wednesday evening, 9 April 1941, age 74. Besides his wife he was survived by his 3 sons and 2 daughters. Funeral services were held at Zion Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, 12 April. Burial was held at Woodlawn Cemetery. The deceased was brought to the family home on Friday morning. Hintz Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

Another Obituary appeared in the Oelwein Register on 14 April 1941, page 7: John Gustav Mickels was born in Province Posen, Germany on 19 October 1866. He was baptized there and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He came to America as a young man to make his home here. On 12 April 1898 he was united in marriage in New York City with Miss Martha Meisner. The young couple moved to Oelwein, Iowa where Mr. Mickels found employment in the Chicago Great Western Railroad shops. The family lived here for 24 years when it became necessary for Mr. Mickels to find other employment because of his health. For this reason he and his family moved to a farm near Fayette, Iowa, where they lived for the next 16 years. In 1938 Mr. and Mrs. Mickels moved back to Oelwein where they have lived since. The illness which eventually led to his death began about 2 years ago. On 10 October 1940 he was taken to the hospital in Iowa City where he underwent a major operation. Since that time his health failed rapidly. He passed to his eternal reward on Wednesday, 19 April 1941 at 8:35 p. m. He attained the age of 74 years, 5 months, and 21 days. He leaves to mourn his death his grief-stricken wife; 5 children; Elsie, now Mrs. Richard Earl Shepherd of Oelwein; William of Albert Lea, Minnesota; George of Fayette, Iowa; Mrs. Albert (Eva) Neuman of Oelwein; and Edward of Oelwein; 4 grandchildren and many friends. ** May he rest in peace. The funeral for John was conducted from the family home and Zion Lutheran Church of Saturday afternoon, 12 April. Rev. H. C. Schiffler, officiated. The singer was Miss Esther Gruse. Interment was held at Woodlawn Cemetery.

** The above was a transcribed copy from the Genealogical Society. A view of the the original newspaper for the same date and page number shows: He was preceded in death by two daughters and one son, also by one brother and one sister. This the first time any mention of his siblings has ever been found.
This note placed June 22, 2016.

Birth	19 Oct 1866	Biala, Posen, West Prussia, Germany
Birth	24 Oct 1867	Germany
Marriage	12 Apr 1898	New York, New York - Martha Augusta Meisner
civil	12 Apr 1921
Death	9 Apr 1941	Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa
Alt name		John Gustaf Michels
Burial		Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa
Residence		Listing of Courts in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa

Spouse	Martha Augusta Meisner (1877 - 1951)
Child	??? Mickels (1900 - 1900)
Child	Elsie Alma Mickels (1902 - 1989)
Child	William F. Michaels (1904 - 1975)
Child	George Elmer Mickels (1907 - 1986)
Child	Edward John Michaels (1909 - 1962)
Child	Vernon Mickels (1912 - 1913)
Child	Elizabeth Dorothy Mickels (1916 - 1917)
Child	Eva A. Mickels (1918 - 1983)

Father

William Mickels ( - )